IT for Change with CIVIC Bangalore, KRIA Katte, and Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement condemn the proposal to amend the Right to Information Act that the government has undertaken in the monsoon session of the parliament. The amendment is to keep political parties out of its ambit. This challenges the basic principle of the Act which is to maintain transparency and accountability by the government, including the processes of governance which determines functioning of the government. The move of the government to amend the Act only goes to show that political parties are not willing to subject themselves to the transparency law and be open public scrutiny under the Act.
On the 6th of August, the organisations mentioned above, held a press conference to support and show solidarity with the larger protests that were being held across the nation to halt the amendment to the Act. An online petition has also been created to oppose the proposed amendments. We request citizens to please sign and share the petition, which is available at http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/shri-manmohan-singh-prime-minister-government-of-india-save-rti-act-from-amendments. In the press conference the organisations announced the protest, on the issue, in Bangalore on the 15th of August, symbolising the creation of a nation and its promise to uphold the citizens interest above others, and not the other way round. The protest will be held at Town Hall, between 10:30 AM to 1 PM. Justice N. Santosh Hegde and other eminent citizens will be participating
Below is the pamphlet stating the details of the amendment to the Act and the protest being held in Bangalore. We request all of you to join us, as information from the government is a right for all and not a privilege for some.