Rights activist Subash Chandra Agrawal has filed an application before the Central Public Information Officer, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) seeking complete information together with related documents/correspondence/file notings on the Congress president Sonia Gandhi's reported opposition for amendments to the Right to Information Act.
Mr. Agrawal filed the application following reports about differences between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ms. Sonia Gandhi on amendments to the RTI Act. There was stiff resistance from rights activists on the proposed changes in the Act. The government was reported to have put on hold the amendments after the intervention of Ms. Gandhi, who wrote to the Prime Minister about the apprehension of the activists that the proposed changes would lead to dilution of the Act.
The applicant sought the following details: “Is it true that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has received some letter from UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi opposing any amendments to ‘Right To Information Act'?; If yes, please provide a copy of the said letter and a copy of the reply by Dr. Singh; Copy of proposed changes in RTI Act; Information on action taken on his letters dated October 26, 2009 and December 12, 2009 addressed to the Prime Minister and; File notings on movement of this RTI petition as well. “In case query relates to some other public authority, transfer this RTI petition to CPIO there under section 6(3) of the RTI Act.”
