BJP opposed to reviewing of RTI Act, says Advani

Jabalpur, Oct 15 (ANI): Accusing the present UPA Government led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh of being the most dysfunctional and paralysed government, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lal Krishna Advani on Saturday said that his party is opposed to reviewing of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

"I want that regarding this subject, there should be a discussion. Prima facie, my party is opposed to any reviewing of the RTI Act because I do believe that it is an effective device for making the government transparent.

"I have seen many governments, right from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh and I can very well say that I have never seen not only a government more corrupt, but a government more dysfunctional and paralysed than this government," he added.

Advani further said everybody mocked him when he had first raised the issue of black money in 2009.

"In 2009, during the elections, when I raised the issue of black money, so I was ridiculed. Congress spokesman had ridiculed me. Subsequently, why subsequently, in a few days, the Prime Minister himself declared that my government will take action in respect of black money in Swiss banks and other tax havens within the first 100 days of my rule. Two years have passed now, nothing has happened in that regard," said Advani.

"Even though, we have been most of our times been in the opposition, only for a brief while in the government at the centre for six years, in some states too for few years. Our record is impeccable," he added.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had on Friday called for a relook at the law to address issues of motivated demands for information and those that could affect policy-making processes.

Addressing the 6th Annual Convention of Information Commissioners in New Delhi, Dr. Singh said "We must take a critical look at it. There are concerns that need to be discussed and addressed honestly. I had mentioned last time the need to strike a balance between the need for disclosure of information and the limited time and resources available with the public authorities."

"A situation in which a public authority is flooded with requests for information having no bearing on public interest is something not desirable. We must, therefore, pool all our wisdom, our knowledge, and our experience to come to a conclusion on how to deal with vexatious demands for information, without at the same time hindering the flow of information to those whose demands genuinely serve public interest," he added.

Advani began his 38-day long "Jan Chetna Yatra" from Bihar"s Sitabdiara village on Tuesday.

Advani"s journey to take on the UPA Government on the corruption issue and press for return of black money stashed away abroad is going to encompass 23 states, four Union Territories, which will include 100 districts and 7600 kilometres.

During the yatra, Advani would be boarding 14 special aircraft and six helicopters. He has to visit a total of 46 places across the country. The 38-day long yatra will conclude in Delhi on November 20 in the form of a massive rally.

Ostensibly to campaign against corruption, the yatra is seen by many political parties as motivated by the upcoming general elections to be held in 2014.

Advani had organised a similar yatra in the 1990's, to mobilise support towards building a temple dedicated to Lord Rama in Ayodhya.

In 2004, he had taken out another chariot procession to reiterate the demand to build the Lord Rama temple in Ayodhya. (ANI)