Amendments to RTI Act 'final assault' to decimate legislation: Gandhi

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused Modi government of diluting powers of Information Commissioners through amendments to RTI Act and termed it as a "final assault" to decimate historic legislation. amendments passed by government will ensure that Information Commissioner shall be free from interference and signalling by Modi government, she said in a statement. 

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"We have opposed se amendments in Parliament and will continue to oppose m in practice. We condemn this piecemeal destruction of our democratic institutions and will continue to fight Modi government in se self-serving actions which are very opposite of national interest," she said.

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'Final assault to decimate RTI'

RTI Act, she said, was a historic legislation that gave birth to an institution that in last 13 years has become a "sentinel of democracy, transparency, and accountability to common man."RTI activists across country, Gandhi said, have used law to tackle corruption, to measure effectiveness of government policies and to illuminate deficiencies in processes such as demonetisation and elections. She said Modi government has seen this remarkable institution as an obstacle to enforcing ir majoritarian nda without being held accountable to people.

" BJP government has w launched its final assault to decimate RTI. To furr erode and dilute its effectiveness, Modi government has passed amendments which diminish office of information commissioner in a manner that it leaves m at mercy of very government it is required to hold accountable," she said.

By reducing benefits for se important posts, Modi government has ensured that senior self-respecting official would agree to work under such monitored circumstances, she alleged. 

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