Don't curtail people's right to know, says Left

New Delhi, Jul 21: Taking a serious view of the government's attempts to ''dilute'' the Right to Information Act, the Left parties today made it clear that they would oppose the move tooth and nail, saying the proposed changes would mar the transparecny in governance which is the very purpose of the new law.

Talking to UNI, the leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and Forward Bloc said the proposed changes would hinder a ''clean, responsive and accountable'' administration.

The Union Cabinet yesterday approved changes in the Right to Informaiton Act, 2005 to exclude notings on files by officials from the ambit of law. Information and Broadcasting minister P R Dasmunsi, however, said the basic structure of the law would not be altered and the proposed changes would make the Act ''effective and progressive.'' ''We do not want any dilution of the law... We will raise the issue in and outside Parliament,'' CPI(M) Floor leader in the LOk Sabha Basudeb Acharia said.

Mr Acharia's CPI counterpart Gurudas Dasgupta said,'' If there is any attmept to curb citizens right to informaiton, we will oppose it.'' CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said curtailment of any right of the citizen would mar openness in the administration.

''The Act was passed to bring transparency and expose malpractices in the governments functioning. In the name of secrecy of the cabinet discussions, Right to Information Act should not be curtailed,'' he added.

Forward Bloc national Secretary G Devrajan said the government should not attempt to infringe on the citizens right to know.

UNI

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