Don't bring changes to RTI: Advani

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 29: Opposing the move to dilute the RTI Act, BJP leader L K Advani today (Oct 29) said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's talk of a relook at the Act could be due to ''sharp'' differences between some of his ministers giving the impression of a ''civil war'' within the government.

"I see no reason for the talk of a critical relook at the RTI except for the fact that differences between (Union ministers) Pranab Mukherjee and Chidambaram came to fore very sharply and gave the impression of a civil war going on within the government. That is the only reason for the anger of Prime Minister against RTI," he told reporters here.

BJP was totally opposed to any move to dilute the Act, through which some of the major corruption cases had come to light, he said.

UPA government, which claimed RTI as one of its major achievements, was now trying to have a relook at it as certain corruption exposes had materialised through the RTI itself, Advani said. "We are opposed to any change of any kind in the RTI law," he said.

Asked if the BJP had the moral standing to take on the Congress on corruption when former Karnataka Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was in jail, Advani said, "I have ever spared anybody and have given my position on Karnataka and nothing more to say on that."

Asked whether the yatra was meant to project himself as a Prime Ministerial candidate, he said the party's stand would be decided at the time of elections. "When elections come, we will declare what has to be declared", he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said a critical look must be taken at the RTI Act and concerns on it discussed and addressed. "The Right to Information should not adversely affect the deliberative processes in the Government," he had said.

PTI