Congress Slams Modi Govt Over RTI Amendments, Calls It ‘Right to Deny Information’

New Delhi: The Indian National Congress (INC) has strongly criticized the Modi government for allegedly weakening the Right to Information (RTI) Act through amendments under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. In a social media post, the party accused the government of turning the RTI into a “Right to Deny Information,” raising concerns over transparency and accountability.

RTI Under Attack?

According to the Congress, the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act makes the law redundant by restricting access to information under the guise of protecting personal data. The party claims that this change will hinder the public from obtaining crucial details about governance, corruption, and policy implementation.

What Has the Modi Government Done?

The Congress alleges that the Modi government has diluted RTI by:

• Amending Section 8(1)(j) to prevent the disclosure of “personal information,” thereby broadening the scope of information that can be withheld.
• Using privacy as an excuse to deny information that was previously accessible to citizens.

Why Is There a Uproar Over the DPDP Act Now?

The party pointed out that the DPDP Act was passed in 2023 when a majority of Opposition MPs were suspended. While the government had not notified the rules until now, it had put them up for public consultation, with the deadline ending today. The Congress fears that once implemented, these changes will make RTI ineffective.

Why Is RTI Crucial?

The Congress highlighted that RTI has played a pivotal role in ensuring transparency and accountability by:

• Empowering citizens to seek information.
• Exposing corruption and lapses in governance.
• Revealing violations of human rights and misuse of public resources.
• Ensuring that government policies are implemented effectively.

What Kind of Information Could Now Be Denied?

According to the Congress, the amendment could block access to key information, such as:

• Names and loan amounts of billionaire defaulters.
• Identities of those who fled India to escape legal action.
• Loan waivers given to corporate entities.
• Beneficiary details of government schemes.
• Electoral roll modifications.
• Income and assets of politicians, bureaucrats, and judges.

Transparency vs Privacy

The Congress refuted claims that RTI disclosures compromised privacy, emphasizing that the original law already prevented the release of personal data unless it was linked to public interest. The party argued that in a democracy, transparency and privacy must coexist rather than being used as a tool to restrict information.

Citizens or Subjects?

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, who shared the post, accused the Modi government of trying to suppress public scrutiny. “The dilution of the RTI Act under the DPDP Act is a direct attack on transparency and accountability. As citizens of India, we have a right to know; we are not subjects in a kingdom,” she stated.

The Congress has urged the public to resist these changes and demand the protection of the RTI Act, which it calls a cornerstone of democracy.