New Delhi:
The Right to Information or RTI allows citizens to question the government and increases their faith in democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today at the annual RTI convention in New Delhi that was boycotted by several prominent activists as only 10 of them were invited for it.
The event, held at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan, was attended only by three of the 10 invitees. As the PM delivered his address, nearly 30 activists staged a protest outside the venue.
"The Right to Information is not only about the right to know but also about the right to question. People should have a right to question the government. This is the foundation of democracy. This will increase their faith in democracy. When matters go online, transparency increases automatically. Trust also increases," the PM said.
"In this day and age, there is no need for secrecy. More openness in governance will help citizens," he added.
Well-known activist Aruna Roy, who was invited but did not attend the event today, had said at a press conference yesterday that the Intelligence Bureau or IB had run background checks on activists and many had not been invited for security reasons.
Ms Roy and the others invited for the PM's session had said they would boycott it in solidarity with those who did not receive an invitation.
But government sources said such verification is routinely done. They also said that invitations were restricted as the hall at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan where the PM made his address could accommodate only 1300 people and the government wanted to ensure the participation of many sections of people involved with Right to Information. Half of the seats in the hall were vacant as the PM delivered his address today.
In past years, more than 200 RTI activists have attended the inaugural session of the annual event, usually addressed by the President or Prime Minister. This year, the meet celebrates the 10th anniversary of the RTI Act.