New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today delivered a strong critique of the Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of systematically weakening the Right to Information (RTI) Act and thereby undermining democracy and citizens’ fundamental rights.
Posting on his official X handle, Kharge recalled, “Twenty years ago, the Congress-led UPA government, under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Smt Sonia Gandhi, ushered in a new era of transparency and accountability by enacting the RTI Act in 2005. However, over the past 11 years, the Modi government has corroded the RTI Act, hollowing out democracy and the citizen’s right to information.”
Kharge highlighted several government actions that, in his view, have eroded the effectiveness of the RTI framework:
“In 2019, the Modi government altered the RTI Act by seizing control over the tenure and pay of Information Commissioners, turning independent watchdogs into subservient functionaries.”
“The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, diluted the RTI’s public interest clause, weaponizing privacy laws to shield corruption and block scrutiny.”
“The Central Information Commission has operated without a Chief Information Commissioner for the seventh time in 11 years. Currently, eight vacancies have remained unfilled for over 15 months, crippling the appeals process and denying justice to thousands.”
“A disturbing ‘no data available’ policy now prevails, with the government withholding critical information on issues such as COVID-19 deaths, NSSO 2017-18 data, ASUSE 2016-2020, and PM CARES, effectively erasing facts to avoid accountability.”
“Since 2014, over 100 RTI activists have been murdered, creating a climate of fear that punishes truth-seekers and suppresses dissent.”
Kharge’s remarks come amid growing alarm from civil society and opposition leaders about the decline of transparency and accountability under the current administration.
The RTI Act, hailed as a groundbreaking law empowering citizens to hold the government accountable, has been weakened through legislative and administrative changes that critics say compromise the independence of information commissions.
The 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, in particular, has faced backlash for its vague provisions that could restrict access to information under the guise of privacy, thereby undermining transparency.
Kharge called for a return to the original spirit of the RTI Act, urging the government to ensure the autonomy of information commissions and uphold the democratic right to information for all citizens.
