‘Truth, not selectively’

Express news service: New Delhi: Thursday, July 05, 2012.

PLANNING Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has responded to a Delhi Confidential item published on Wednesday: “The Delhi Confidential section of 4th July reports that as a result of RTI queries on the expenses incurred on my official foreign travel, my office has instructed the RTI cell to show me the details of information being released before it is given out. The fact is I had instructed some months ago that any information relating to individuals should also be shown to them. For myself I have instructed that all information about myself given in response to RTI queries will also be put out as a Press Note and posted on our website. I am a strong supporter of the RTI but I believe the purpose of the RTI is to increase transparency. This is best done by making information released also publicly available to all, and not only to the individual seeking information, to be used, at times selectively, in so called exposé. The truth will make us free only if it is known fully to all, not selectively to those asking questions.”