AAP KE 15 LAK"H: PMO HAS NO JAWAB

One of the most hyped prepoll ‘jumlas’ of the Modi government – the claim that Rs. 15 lakh will be deposited in every citizen's bank account – failed to elicit a reply from the PMO, when a poser was sent under the RTI.

The applicant had asked for the exact date when the money will be deposited. The PMO has shrugged off the query by responding that this cannot be considered "information" under the rules of the Right to Information Act.

The RTI request was filed on November 26, 2016 -- 18 days after PM Modi announced a ban of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. The applicant had also sought information on how the print media came to have advance information about the demonetisation, another request that the PMO said does not fall under the ambit of ‘information’.

According to the relevant section 2 (f) of the RTI Act, "information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information related to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law.

Apparently, election manifestos and poll pledges do not fall in this category, even though it is technically a breach of promise to the nation. Party president Amit Shah, pilloried by the Opposition for failure to deposit the promised amount, had tried to wriggle out of the sticky mess by dismissing the election pledge as a political jumla.

Maybe, the RTI Act should be amended to bring ‘jumlas’ under its purview; it would make the RTI a more potent weapon in the hands of the masses, pointed out a political observer.