The Cabinet on Thursday cleared the proposal to keep political parties out of the ambit of the Right to Information Act (RTI). At a time when public mistrust in political leadership is running high, does this convey the right message? CNN-IBN's deputy bureau chief Pallavi Ghosh joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. Pallavi, why political parties are scared with the idea of including them under RTI? Does it not mean that there is definitely wrong in managing the funds they receive from various sources? Asked by: Shyam Vadalker
A. Because they will have to be accountable and worse they will have to admit where their funds came from.
Q. What's the reason for the rampant corruption in the country - instead of nurturing RTI the parties are trying hard to save their skins - this in itself is reeking of guilt. Whats the way forward? I feel that the country will hit the zenith of corruption in a few years from now your views? Asked by: Srikanth
A. Agree what we need is electoral reforms and decriminalisation of politics but unfortunately when it comes to saving their skin all netas forget their differences.
Q. Hi Pallavi, isn't the Congress doing a political suicide by keeping the political parties out of RTI as Congress party is already under fire for Corruption and its failure for bringing Lokpal bill in an election year.Do you think that this can be used by people like Arvind Kejriwal in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections? Asked by: Suhas
A. Yes, actually Cong could have taken the high moral ground by doing so.
Q. It shows that corruption is never ending in India. If the parties were to be under RTI act then bribing the voters would have come down. Asked by: Sathyaki
A. Whether it is to oppose SC order barring criminal candidates or RTI it's clear political parties don't care to be clear. EC is meeting parties on freebies during election but I have little hope.
Q. The parties said their expenses could be sought through petitions to the Election Commission and there are other laws to make their accounts public. my question is aren't those laws not strongly implemented or not strong enough themselves that we ask them to be brought under RTI? What would be the major difference between coming under RTI and staying out of it? What other info would we gain out of RTI regarding the parties? Asked by: prakash
A. But every time EC has tried to clean the system nothing gas happened.
Q. What is the type of information which is now available which can be denied once the amendment is through? Is it a significant one? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Every party of course on its web site puts up their accounts and this is usually not the right figure in the end it's parties who have to draw the line but who cares.
Q. Public opinion, the so called one, does not bother the politician. Is it because the public is not the voter? Voter behaviour is different from public behaviour? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. I think they are now worried about what media says but yes the fact that wrong people get voted back shows voters don't care.
Q. Right To Information, now can be available through media only. Hopefully journalist are protected and need not disclose the source of info? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. :-)
Q. Don't you think Private sector should first come under RTI which would then pave the way of parties to fall in line. Asked by: Nagarajan
A. As per definition of rti act only those being funded by govt bone under act but Pvt sector has other agencies too night them like SEBI.
Q. The argument against the parties to fall under RTI seems very flimsy. Can this be challenged, if the amendment proposal goes through? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Of course it can be challenged if someone files a PIL.
Q. Why no one wants to be accountable ? Is it lack in their own capabilities? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Because they are scared.
Q. It is not a cabinet push. It is all party push. This is one of the best proof that all political parties are alike and that they wear different masks to gather their votes. Can AAM as a registered party file an PIL on this and get the RTI to remain as it is and get the parties to comply with orders? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Cabinet could do it because all pol parties backed them.
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