Lucknow/ Saturday, 29-03-2025…………………….The
Congress Party and its leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge,
and Ajay Rai, have been repeatedly exposed for their blatant disregard for the
Right to Information (RTI) Act, despite their public rhetoric of supporting
transparency and accountability. The actions—or rather the inaction—of these
leaders serve as a stark contrast to their anti-BJP posturing and attempts to
portray themselves as champions of democratic rights. Through a series of RTI
applications filed by transparency activist Sanjay Sharma, this duplicity is
laid bare for all to see.
Sanjay Sharma, an
influential figure in India's civil society, has been at the forefront of
demanding accountability from the government and opposition alike. As a staunch
advocate of transparency, human rights, and legal rights, Sharma has spent
years fighting for better governance and the enforcement of the RTI Act. His
efforts have garnered attention, particularly his campaign aimed at holding
political parties, including Congress, accountable for their refusal to comply
with RTI requests.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of
the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has long claimed to support the RTI Act,
positioning himself as a defender of transparency in Indian governance.
However, Sharma’s investigation into the Congress Party’s treatment of RTI
applications tells a different story. While Gandhi may present himself as a
vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), especially on issues related to transparency and accountability, his own
party and personal conduct in this regard remain an open contradiction. Rahul
Gandhi’s opposition to Modi’s policies, often couched in concern for the
public’s right to information, is, according to Sharma, little more than
political theatre—designed to score points against the ruling party rather than
effect real change.
Sharma's revelations
underscore a disturbing pattern: when it comes to their own transparency,
Congress Party leaders have consistently failed to honor their obligations
under the RTI Act. A series of RTI applications submitted to Rahul Gandhi,
Mallikarjun Kharge, Ajay Rai, and other Congress leaders in October of last
year have gone unanswered. The RTI requests were filed directly to Gandhi's
official addresses, including his residence at 10 Janpath and his Parliament
office. They were also routed through Kharge, the Congress Party’s National
President, and Rai, the President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.
Despite the clear legal requirement to respond to RTI applications within 30
days, these requests remain completely unattended to—an outright violation of
the law they profess to support.
While Sharma has been
critical of Congress' stance on RTI, he also takes issue with the broader civil
society movement's handling of other key legislative issues. Specifically,
Sharma has expressed concern over the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP)
Act of 2023. While supporting the concerns raised by civil society groups and
activists about the potential dangers of the DPDP Act, Sharma advises these
groups to be cautious in their approach. He urges them to oppose the DPDP Act
but cautions against aligning with political parties and figures—like Rahul
Gandhi and the Congress Party—that have proven themselves unwilling to honor
the RTI Act. Sharma stresses that civil society groups must align themselves
with those who live transparency and accountability in true letter and spirit,
rather than using RTI concerns as a political weapon against their adversaries.
Sanjay Sharma is not alone
in his criticism of Congress' actions. He raises a crucial question to civil
society groups and activists who regularly engage with Congress leaders: Is it
justifiable to meet and collaborate with political figures who themselves
disregard the very laws they claim to champion? Sharma urges civil society
members to reconsider their alliances with parties and politicians who openly
flout the RTI Act. He warns that if these groups continue to align themselves
with such figures, they risk being seen not as impartial advocates for the
public interest but as pawns in the opposition’s political games—a move that
could severely undermine the integrity of the RTI movement in India.
One particularly telling
example of Congress' RTI hypocrisy occurred more than a decade ago, when Rahul
Gandhi, in an interview with Times Now, mentioned the RTI Act no less than 33
times, positioning himself as a vocal proponent of the law. In response, the
former Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Shailesh Gandhi wrote an open
letter to Rahul Gandhi urging him to appoint a Public Information Officer (PIO)
within the Congress Party to facilitate responses to RTI requests. However,
despite over 11 years passing since this request, the Congress Party has not
made any meaningful attempt to comply with the RTI Act.
Sharma argues that
Congress’ vocal stance on RTI issues is nothing more than a facade—designed
purely to create political mileage against the BJP. According to him, Congress’
interest in RTI is entirely contingent on its opposition to the Modi government.
Whenever the BJP or Modi government introduces policies or amendments to the
RTI Act, Congress raises alarms, presenting itself as a defender of citizens’
right to information. However, when it comes to their own obligations under the
law, Congress consistently drops the ball, choosing instead to ignore or
outright dismiss RTI requests.
This hypocrisy is further
compounded by the Congress Party’s continued promotion of its own RTI
departments at various levels of the organization. On the one hand, Congress
presents itself as a party committed to transparency by establishing these
departments; on the other, its leadership blatantly disregards the very
requests for information made under the RTI Act. As Sharma notes, this
inconsistency—crying out for transparency on one hand while suppressing
transparency within the party on the other—is not only unethical but deeply
hypocritical.
Sanjay Sharma’s advocacy
for the RTI Act goes beyond his personal grievances with Congress. He sees the
failure of political parties, especially the Congress Party, to comply with the
RTI Act as a broader threat to the very idea of democratic accountability. In
his view, if political parties are allowed to evade the law without
consequences, the entire foundation of transparency and accountability in
Indian governance will crumble. Sharma’s work serves as a reminder that true
democracy demands transparency from all, whether in power or in opposition.
In the current political
landscape, where the debate over the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP)
Act of 2023 is taking center stage, Sharma raises a critical point. He warns
civil society groups and activists not to be swayed by political figures who
claim to defend the rights of citizens but fail to follow basic transparency
laws when it comes to their own conduct. Sharma advocates for a more discerning
approach to political engagement, urging activists to withhold their support
from politicians and parties who do not demonstrate a genuine commitment to
transparency.
The stark contrast between
Rahul Gandhi’s political rhetoric and his party’s actions regarding RTI is
emblematic of a broader problem in Indian politics: the failure of opposition
parties to lead by example. If Congress truly wishes to present itself as a
champion of transparency and democratic values, it must start by upholding the
very laws that define these principles. Until then, Sharma’s work stands as a
testament to the need for persistent advocacy and the unflinching demand for
accountability from all corners of the political spectrum.
In conclusion, Sanjay
Sharma’s tireless efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and human
rights through the RTI Act serve as a beacon of hope for the future of India’s
democratic governance. His work highlights not only the shortcomings of Congress
but also the broader challenges faced by civil society in holding political
leaders accountable for their actions. If the RTI Act is to retain its power
and relevance, it is imperative that all political parties—Congress
included—comply with its provisions, ensuring that transparency remains the
cornerstone of Indian democracy.
Sanjay Sharma can be
contacted on Mobile Nos. 8004560000, 9454461111, 7991479999 and email address sanjaysharmalko@icloud.com .
