Our Correspondent / New Delhi
BJP Government at centre has rejected Congress allegations that it was seeking to scuttle the RTI Act through certain rules describing the charges as blatant lie. It said the proposed rules contain some provisions which rather empower the applicants under the RTI Act.
Briefing media in New Delhi today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the opposition party’s allegations that present regime is diluting the RTI law by prescribing word limit for RTI questions besides increasing the fee, is not true.
He said the proposals regarding the word limit and the fee are exactly the same as proposed by the UPA government. Mr. Naidu said, as advised by Attorney General, the government has now proposed a set of new comprehensive rules and invited public comments.
The Minister also gave point by point rebuttal to the Congress’ allegations. Accusing the Congress of resorting to disinformation campaign against the government, Mr. Naidu said the transparency and accountability in governance are non- negotiable. He demanded an apology from the opposition party on the issue.
Information and Broadcasting Minister also attacked former Union Minister P Chidambaram for his remarks that Narendra Modi government is exercising control over the owners of media. He reiterated that NDA government believes in total freedom of the press.