Here is the case of exploring yet another possibility of the much talked-about Right To Information Act.
One cannot imagine that a couple of years ago, a citizen could have an access to a sensitive information pertaining to India’s civil nuclear deal with the United States.
The matter - sought by anybody would have been flatly denied, under the shelter of the Official Secrets Act. Today one can elicit any kind of information - thanks to the RTI Act.
At a time when the entire nation was engrossed with the pros and cons of the highly volatile and controversial Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Shaikh Shafi Ahmed from Gulbarga quietly flung a missile to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), New Delhi, seeking crucial aspects of the nuclear deal under the provisions of the RTI Act.
Surprise in store
He was not sure that the information sought by him would be parted with. But he had a surprise in store. The PMO informed that his application had been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to furnish the information sought by him - as the subject is concerned to that ministry.
And this was not a matter for consolation. Shafi was still sceptical. Even after the mandatory period of 30 days he did not receive information from the MEA. When he was thinking of pursing further course of action, for not furnishing information nor giving reasons for denying the same, he was delighted to receive an intimation from the MEA asking him to send Rs 6 for furnishing the information running into three pages. He obliged and within a fortnight, he received what he wanted. “I was rather overwhelmed to receive information from the MEA on a sensitive issue. If the RTI is put to better use one can certainly create a better system,’’ remarked Shafi Ahmed.
He is one of the very few RTI activists who has been striving hard to roll down the skeletons from the cupboards of different departments pertaining to public interest issues.
He has already exposed how the Gulbarga City Corporation has been wasting lakhs of rupees every year by awarding benami contracts for the maintenance of borewells fitted with power pumps.
What made Shafi Ahmed to resort to RTI for seeking information on the nuclear deal?
“There were apprehensions that India’s sovereignty would be compromised with by signing the 123 Agreement and that our foreign policies could be influenced by the Americans,’’ Shafi Ahmed said adding, he was satisfied with the MEA information.
Apprehensions
On the apprehensions of affecting the age-old Indo-Iranian cordial relations due to signing of the nuclear pact, the MEA said: “India is a sovereign country which strives to maintain cordial relations with all countries. Our relations with one country do not affect our policy towards another country. Our foreign policy is guided by India’s national interests.’’
The MEA has said a categorical ‘No’ to the question whether was there any provision in the 123 Agreement allowing Americans to use Indian Air Base in the wartime and facility to fuel and refuel its war planes.
According to the MEA, the 123 Agreement sought to secure a clean source of energy to sustain our economy with the manifest aim to improve the standard of living of our people.
“The agreement will be implemented in accordance with our national laws. The agreement in no way affects our vital interests, strategic nuclear programme, indigenous nuclear R&D or independent decision making in foreign policy issues,’’ the MEA asserted.
On the question of necessity of the agreement in the present context, it is stated that it was needed to address our growing energy requirement. “It would herald the end of nuclear isolation imposed on India by the international community. This would help us get technology and raw material to develop our civil nuclear programme further,’’ is the assertion of the MEA.
Well, the RTI has also ended the isolation of the hapless and helpless citizens rendered by the official secrecy regime. Except the classified ones, one can have access to any kind of information from the State and Central governments.