RTI: In letter to 3 CMs, former IC Acharyulu asks if fear of Centre drove them to vote in favour of amendments

Expressing concern at the decision of the leaders and Chief Ministers of three states — Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa — to support the RTI (Amendment) Bill 2019, former Central Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu asked K Chandrasekhar Reddy, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Naveen Patnaik why they decided to support this unconstitutional Bill.

Acharyulu asked them to release statements explaining why they were compelled to accept “this unconstitutional Bill which destroys the independence of Information Commissioners and encroach upon the sovereign rights of the states”. He underscored that they had sacrificed the sovereign rights of the states.

He asked if they knew that the Act was helping and empowering people in their regions and now as a result of their votes, it would go against good governance, something which the three CMs were hoping to achieve in their own states.

The former IC wanted to know if they had any fears or apprehensions, which led them to vote in favour of the RTI (Amendment) Bill. “Was there any fear or apprehension you are suffering from? Among the three of you only has some charges pending, then why were the other two worried about the Centre? What compelled you three to surrender your sovereignty to Delhi Sultanate?” asked Acharyulu.

Please read the entire letter here: