Opp accuses Govt of ‘intimidation’ by not sending Bill to Select Committee
Parliament on Thursday approved the amendment to the RTI Act, with the Rajya Sabha passing it amid the Opposition walkout on the issue of sending it to a Select Committee of the House.
After four adjournments against the backdrop of protest in the Well of the House, the motion was negated by 117 members voting against the motion and 75 members voting in favour. The Opposition charged the Government with “intimidating” them to get the motion for sending the amendment to the Select Committee rejected.
The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed with a voice vote in the Lok Sabha last week. The amendment seeks to give the Government power to decide the terms of the Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners at both the Central and State levels, as well as has a say on the salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of their services.
RTI activists and the Opposition members have accused the Union Government of seeking to weaken the law by gaining more control over the working of the Information Commissions.
As many as five members had given notice for amendment seeking to send the Bill to a select Committee. The Government stuck to its point that the motions for sending the Bill to select committee and passage of the draft law would be taken up only after the discussion.
The House witnessed four brief adjournments amid the din as Congress, DMK, CPI, CPI(M), TMC and AAP members remained in the Well of the House and raised slogans against the Government. Members rushed into the Well shouting slogans against “such strong arm tactics”. The Motion for sending the amendment to the Select Committee was put to vote after a division was sought when the pandemonium broke out.
As the protests continued and some members threw papers in the Well of the House, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said it amounted to indiscipline and observed what impression was being set especially as schoolchildren were sitting in the Visitor’s gallery to witness the proceedings.
The ensuing vote on the passage of the amendment after the Opposition walkout, was carried by voice vote. Congress members Viplov Thakur and others even tried to snatch the vote slips from hands of N Ramesh who recently joined BJP after quitting TDP.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Government is amending the RTI Act as the Prime Minister is “taking revenge” for the disclosure in five cases directed under it which includes disclosure of demonetisation and regarding his educational qualifications.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the House has witnessed how “303 seats are won”, an apparent reference to BJP winning absolute majority in the recent Lok Sabha elections and then leading the Opposition walkout saying they are boycotting the proceedings. Result of the division was announced after the walkout.
Replying to the debate on the amendment, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the amendment was not brought without any motivation and was in good faith. This, he said, will lead to institutionalisation of Chief Information Commission and strengthen the provision of RTI Act.
As soon as the House resumed in the afternoon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Jitendra Singh to move the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill. After moving it for consideration, the Minister urged the Chair to hold discussion on the Bill and then decide on the motions for its passage as well as the issue of sending the draft law to a select committee.
The Opposition members got agitated when the Deputy Chairman called five members for moving the motion for referring the Bill to Select Committee and then asked to initiate debate on the draft law.