In a sharp criticism of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tripura Pradesh Congress President Ashish Kumar Saha on Sunday accused the government of promoting corruption and eroding transparency in governance. Addressing a press conference at the Congress Bhavan, Saha alleged that several welfare schemes lack accountability and openness, undermining the public’s right to information.
Highlighting the importance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which was enacted by the UPA government in 2005, Saha described it as one of the most powerful tools for citizen empowerment and democratic participation. However, he claimed that since 2014, the RTI mechanism has been systematically weakened through amendments that diluted the autonomy of Information Commissions and expanded exemptions under the pretext of protecting personal data.
Citing official data, Saha expressed concern over the alarming backlog of over four lakh pending RTI appeals across the country. He pointed out that the Central Information Commission (CIC) is severely understaffed, with only two commissioners currently in office, which has further delayed the delivery of information and justice to citizens.
The Congress leader also questioned the government’s lack of transparency in crucial public matters, including the PM CARES Fund, the electoral bonds scheme, and COVID-19-related expenditures. He condemned the long-pending implementation of the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, terming it a serious blow to accountability and the safety of those exposing corruption.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the RTI Act, Saha reaffirmed the Congress party’s commitment to upholding transparency, restoring the independence of Information Commissions, and protecting RTI activists. He urged the central government to fill existing vacancies, ensure timely redressal of RTI applications, and revive the spirit of openness that lies at the heart of India’s democracy.
