It is public knowledge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a copy of the Bhagwad Gita to Japanese Emperor Akihito during his visit to the country in September last year.
But, when a Bandra resident filed an RTI asking for the list of gifts that the Indian PMs between May 2009 and November 2014 had given to the heads of state during their visits abroad, his application was turned down.
In its reply, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that disclosing the information would prejudicially affect India's relations with the concerned foreign states. This, even though the Ministry itself publishes the lists of gifts received by ministers and officials on its website.
Information sought by you relates to details of gifts presented during the period mentioned above. However, disclosure of this information may prejudicially affect India's relations with the concerned foreign states.
Exemption is, therefore, sought under section 8(1) a) RTI Act, 2005, wherein no such information as may prejudicially affect India's relations with a foreign state need be disclosed."
SEEKING LOGIC
Earlier this month, Fernandes, who was unhappy with the MEA reply, wrote back to the ministry. In his appeal to the ministry, he has said, "The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) had thus claimed a blanket exemption under Section 8(1)(a) for all information without any application of mind as to the applicability of exemption in each individual case and has thereby sought to frustrate my application.
His letter goes on to say, "Many countries, like the United States, maintain lists of gifts given to their officials by foreign officials, which are published on the internet. For example, the US state department website has a list of gifts federal employees have received from foreign government sources http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/c29447.htm The list for 2011 (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/210473.pdf) includes on page 12 a gift received by President Barack Obama from Dr. Manmohan Singh, then Prime Minister of India viz. A 20'' octagonal white marble table top with design of inlaid blue and yellow flowers, and octagonal stand decorated with blue and red flowers. Rec'd-11/18/ 2011. Est. Value $1,375.00.
'JUST CURIOUS'
Hence, out of curiosity, I filed the RTI to find out the other gifts given by him and the previous PM in the May 2009-November 2014 period." mid-day sent a detailed email to the spokesperson of MEA, Syed Akbaruddin, asking him why Fernandes' request was turned down. We did not receive a reply.
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