The Hindu: Pune: Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
Mr. Hazare objected to the hike in fees, saying no rational explanation or financial analysis was provided
Social activist Anna
Hazare on Tuesday (June 23, 2026) warned the BJP-led Maharashtra government to
withdraw the ‘illegal’ amendments made to the Right to Information (RTI) Rules,
or he will stage an indefinite hunger strike from July 5.
Questioning the need for the amendments, Mr. Hazare said, “Why are such absurd amendments made to the law if the intention is not to weaken the RTI Act? If a satisfactory solution is received in the meeting held on the matter a day after, at 4 p.m., then the fast will be cancelled, or agitation will continue.”
Mr. Hazare led the agitations in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2006 in efforts to implement the RTI Act. “We fought for so many years, travelled across the country to create awareness, and after 20 years, we are here again,” he added.
The Maharashtra government made amendments on June 12, which, Mr. Hazare has alleged, violate the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005. Mr. Hazare has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, pointing out that the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, will prevent people from accessing information and hamper transparency.
The RTI amendments include tripling the application fee from ₹10 to ₹30 without any clear financial analysis, providing mandatory identification, restriction up to a 150-word limit, and avoiding multiple queries in a single filing.
On the mandatory ID, he said, “The clause threatens the whistleblowers and activists”, and objected to the fee hike, saying, “It is not to generate funds”.
The other rules mandate applicants to state the purpose of filing RTI; no legal representation during Information Commission hearings; the case will be dismissed in the event of absence during the hearing; and a ban on repeat applications.
Mr. Hazare objected to the hike in fees, saying no rational explanation or financial analysis was provided
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Social activist Anna
Hazare. File | Photo Credit: PTI |
Questioning the need for the amendments, Mr. Hazare said, “Why are such absurd amendments made to the law if the intention is not to weaken the RTI Act? If a satisfactory solution is received in the meeting held on the matter a day after, at 4 p.m., then the fast will be cancelled, or agitation will continue.”
Mr. Hazare led the agitations in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2006 in efforts to implement the RTI Act. “We fought for so many years, travelled across the country to create awareness, and after 20 years, we are here again,” he added.
The Maharashtra government made amendments on June 12, which, Mr. Hazare has alleged, violate the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005. Mr. Hazare has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, pointing out that the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, will prevent people from accessing information and hamper transparency.
The RTI amendments include tripling the application fee from ₹10 to ₹30 without any clear financial analysis, providing mandatory identification, restriction up to a 150-word limit, and avoiding multiple queries in a single filing.
On the mandatory ID, he said, “The clause threatens the whistleblowers and activists”, and objected to the fee hike, saying, “It is not to generate funds”.
The other rules mandate applicants to state the purpose of filing RTI; no legal representation during Information Commission hearings; the case will be dismissed in the event of absence during the hearing; and a ban on repeat applications.
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