Cong defends dilution of RTI

New Delhi,July 21(UNI)The Congress today maintained that despite the changes proposed in the Right to Information Act in yesterday's Cabinet meeting,the "heart and soul of the legisaltion" has been retained to allow transparancy in the governance.

"This has been approved by the Cabinet.We have to wait for Parliament to look into it,"Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said reacting to the notings on files by bureaucrats exempted from the purview of the the Act.

Briefing media persons here, he pointed out that it was the Congress initiative that had led to this legislation.It was the decision of the Govenment that the change has been proposed."We can not dissent as we do not have inputs that prompted the change." The Right to Information Act, he pointed out, was intended to deal with social and development projects to provide transparancy.

As far as notings about them are concerned, it provides for full disclosures of notings, he said.

Defending the changes made in the Act, Mr Singhvi said legislation always changes with the changing times." Asked whether the Office of Profit bill would be amended in the light of President's suggestions or it would go back to the President for assent in the same form,he said it was for the Cabinet to decide.

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