Kharge condemns Modi govt for undermining RTI Act, threatening democracy
Kharge condemns Modi govt for undermining RTI Act, threatening democracy
M.U.H
12/10/202531
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sharply criticised the Narendra Modi-led government for systematically weakening the Right to Information (RTI) Act, describing it as an attack on democracy and citizens’ fundamental rights.
“Twenty years ago, the Congress-led UPA government, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Smt Sonia Gandhi, ushered in a new era of transparency and accountability by implementing the RTI Act in 2005,” Kharge pointe out in a statement posted on his official handle X. “However, in the last 11 years, the Modi government has corroded the RTI Act, hollowing out democracy and the citizens’ right to information,” he bewailed.
Kharge outlined several key actions by the current government that, he claimed, have eroded the RTI framework:
“In 2019, the Modi government hacked away at the RTI Act by seizing control over Information Commissioners’ tenure and pay, converting independent watchdogs into servile functionaries.”
“The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, gutted the RTI’s public interest clause, weaponising privacy to shield corruption and stonewall scrutiny.”
“The Central Information Commission has been functioning without a Chief Information Commissioner for the seventh time in 11 years. Currently, eight vacancies remain unfilled for over 15 months, paralysing the appeals process and denying justice to thousands.”
“A chilling ‘no data available’ doctrine now prevails, with the government brazenly withholding information on key issues including COVID-19 deaths, NSSO 2017-18 data, ASUSE 2016-2020, and PM CARES, effectively erasing facts to escape accountability.”
“Since 2014, over 100 RTI activists have been murdered, creating a climate of terror that punishes truth-seekers and extinguishes dissent.”
Kharge’s remarks come amid growing concerns among civil society and opposition parties about the weakening of democratic institutions and transparency under the current regime.
The RTI Act, enacted in 2005, has been hailed as a landmark legislation empowering citizens to hold the government accountable by accessing information. However, critics argue that recent legislative and administrative changes have undermined the independence and effectiveness of information commissions.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, passed in 2023, has faced criticism for its ambiguous provisions that could restrict the scope of information accessible under RTI, particularly by emphasising privacy over transparency.
Kharge’s statement calls for restoring the RTI Act to its original spirit and ensuring that the information commissions function without political interference, to safeguard democracy and citizens’ rights.
