7/30/2019 Letter to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi From Aruna Roy

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To,

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi

Chairperson UPA

10 Janpath

New Delhi

Dear Mrs.Gandhi,

I enclose a letter from the co-convenors of the National Campaign for Peoples Right to

Information (NCPRI) seeking an appointment with you to discuss the proposed RTI

Amendment Bill requesting that the Government suggest that the Bill be referred to a

Standing Committee for further discussion.

I had written to you earlier seeking an appointment regarding the proposed amendments to

the RTI. Since then much has happened. The amendment bill proposing to exclude political

parties from the purview of the RTI has been tabled. Given that there has been no publicconsultation on the matter, I feel it is even more imperative that the Bill at least be referred to

a Standing Committee or a Select Committee of the Parliament to allow for broader

consultations and deliberations. It would also offer interested citizens and experts an

opportunity to break the increasing polarization between people/civil society groups and

political parties on this matter.

We have met the Prime Minister on this matter on the 19 th August, 2013, who after listening

to our point of view said he would discuss with his colleagues to see whether a

recommendation could be made to send the Bill to the Standing Committee of Parliament.

We also discussed with him the need to immediately pass long standing accountability

legislations such as the Grievance Redressal Bill, Whistleblower Protection Bill and the

Lokpal Bill. He suggested that we meet Mr. Narayanswamy to follow up on these matters.

We had detailed discussions with Mr. Narayanswamy on these matters and also received a

communication from the PMO that suggested that the Bill may be sent to the Standing

Committee. Subsequently there were reports in the papers that the decision had been taken to

send the Bill to the Standing Committee. However there has been no report from the

Government confirming this. Today we saw a post of Shri Jay Panda, which I produce below

, which has caused us a lot of concern and led me to write this letter to you. (I also append his

letter to the Speaker ).

" ......... Disappointed to report that my last post turned out to be a red herring. I've just been

informed by the Hon'ble Speaker's office that my proposal to defer the proposed amendment

of RTI (exempting political parties) and send it to a parliamentary committee for thorough

discussion (and participation by public/activists) has been rejected. This happened due to

lack of all-party support in the Lok Sabha's BAC (Business Advisory Committee). Sadly this

is yet another example when a union minister was quoted by responsible publications (here

The Hindu and The Hindustan Times) as apparently bowing to public pressure, only for it to

turn out to be just a tactic to buy time and scuttle. Well, I am going to o7ppose it on the floor

of the House, and am just filing an appropriate amendment. I will also insist on a division

(vote) so that it becomes a matter of record as to who DID what (irrespective of what they

SAID). I urge all of you to add your voices to this. Irrespective offer whichever party orpolitical leader you support, please put pressure on them!!!........."

7/30/2019 Letter to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi From Aruna Roy

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Apart from our concern that the RTI Act should not be amended in this fashion we strongly

feel that we are losing an important opportunity to ensure financial transparency and

accountability in the political structures. A number of sincere and committed political leaders

have expressed their deep concerns with the illegitimate influence of money power in the

electoral political process. The Election Commission and IT Authorities have alreadydisplayed their inability to effectively control this deep-rooted problem. Political parties

themselves are unable to do this either. The only hope is to empower the common citizen to

do what they have been doing so courageously and creatively with the RTI- fight corruption

and the arbitrary use of power through their straightforward questions and determination to

get answers.

I believe that the least that the political class can do is to take into consideration all other

opinions and options before taking a completely arbitrary step of exempting themselves all

together from the RTI Act. I also believe that this would not be good for the credibility or the

strength of the political establishment.

I would be very grateful if you could meet some of us. As a consistent supporter of the right

to access information, we hope that you will give RTI activists a hearing so that we can

explain why we are so strongly opposing the proposed amendments

With warm regards,

Aruna Roy