Congress Accuses BJP Government of Weakening Right to Information Act

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the BJP government of weakening the Right to Information (RTI) Act by introducing the Data Protection Law. Kharge stated that the government is using the pretext of data security to undermine the RTI Act, which was enacted by the UPA government to ensure transparency and accountability in governance. He argued that the RTI Act is essential for ensuring that citizens have access to information about public schemes, beneficiary lists, and other important details.

Kharge pointed out that the RTI Act has been instrumental in exposing corruption and wrongdoing in the past, and that the government's attempts to weaken it would only serve to protect the interests of those who seek to hide the truth. He emphasized that the Congress party would not allow the RTI Act to be weakened and would continue to fight for the rights of citizens to access information. Kharge also noted that the protection of citizens' rights is a fundamental principle of democracy and that the RTI Act is a crucial tool for ensuring that citizens are able to hold their governments accountable.

The Congress president's comments come amidst growing concerns about the government's attempts to undermine the RTI Act. Many activists and opposition parties have accused the government of trying to dilute the Act and reduce its effectiveness in promoting transparency and accountability. The government has introduced several amendments to the RTI Act in recent years, which have been criticized by opposition parties and civil society groups. Kharge's statement is seen as a reaffirmation of the Congress party's commitment to protecting the RTI Act and ensuring that citizens' rights are protected.

Here are some key points related to the RTI Act and the government's attempts to undermine it: * The RTI Act was enacted in 2005 to promote transparency and accountability in governance * The Act allows citizens to access information about public schemes, beneficiary lists, and other important details * The government has introduced several amendments to the RTI Act in recent years, which have been criticized by opposition parties and civil society groups * The Congress party has vowed to protect the RTI Act and ensure that citizens' rights are protected * The security of citizens' data is a major concern, and the government's attempts to undermine the RTI Act have raised fears about the potential for abuse of power.

The controversy surrounding the RTI Act highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between transparency and secrecy in governance. While the government has argued that the Data Protection Law is necessary to protect citizens' personal data, opposition parties and civil society groups have argued that the law could be used to undermine the RTI Act and reduce transparency in governance. The issue is likely to continue to be a major point of contention in the coming months, with the Congress party and other opposition parties vowing to protect the RTI Act and ensure that citizens' rights are protected.