Times of India: Jaipur: Sunday, August 04, 2013.
Social activist Aruna Roy and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti
Sangathan activist Nikhil Dey have announced a daylong protest on August 6 at
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the proposed amendment of RTI Act to keep
political parties out of its ambit.
Roy demanded that all political parties spell out their
stand in public on the proposed amendment before the commencement of monsoon
session on August 6. "None of the political parties have showed interest
or hinted at a public discussion on this move. Neither have they officially
announced in public their move to bring an amendment."
The activist contended that they had come to know through
news leaks that the matter was also discussed in meetings held by parties two
days ago. "Every party has unanimously green signaled the ruling coalition
to go ahead with the amendment. It is most likely to take place in a week's
time," she said.
The donations from corporate companies apart from foreign
funds influence government's decisions and policies. "The country needs
transparency in this subject which will only strengthen people's faith in
governance," said Roy.
According to Nikhil Dey, if political parties don't have
any problem in disclosing their wealth and financial transactions to the
Election Commission and I-T department, why they have apprehensions over the
same under RTI? "It seems that they fear that if such information goes to
the public, they become answerable to the public," said Dey, who said
source of fundings, transactions and expenses should be known to the public.
She accused Union government of betraying the promise
made in the Parliament in 2009 of not moving an amendment before discussions
with the stakeholders and general public. "The intended move is a mockery
of democracy."
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