JOIN USCong asks leaders to utilise RTI in Oppn-ruled states
The move is aimed at unravelling scams in states and nailing the governments concerned, according to the party sources.
“We want the country to know what is going on in other states and we have directed our leaders to utilise RTI Act to find out rampant corruption,” a senior Congress leader said.
He said the Congress now wants to go offensive on the issue of corruption after it went on backfoot following the protest by social worker Anna Hazare demanding joint committee to draft Jan Lokpal Bill to check corruption.
According to the leader, the Congress will launch an aggressive campaign in the states ruled by Opposition parties to get information through the RTI Act regarding utilisation of funds given under the flagship schemes of the UPA government like JNNURM, NRHM, and MGNREGA, and hopes to unearth some big scams.
The party will follow the pattern of Uttar Pradesh in these states. In Uttar Pradesh, instructions were issued to all divisional, district and city heads of the party’s RTI cell to file RTI applications on these issues.
They were also given specimens of the format that was to be used to file RTI applications. Also, the grassroot party workers were given training about the UPA’s flagship schemes so that they can ask the right questions.
Applications filed
Notably, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi along with party general secretary Rahul Gandhi filed two RTI applications before the Public Information Officer on April 27 in Lucknow, seeking details of funding and expenditure under National Rural Health Mission and Janani Suraksha Yojna schemes in the state.
Joshi, in her application asked for information on the money given by the Centre every year since 2005-2006 to the state under various schemes like the NRHM, and Janani Suraksha Yojna.
Joshi and Gandhi filed these application with an intention to “expose” financial irregularities, if any, committed by the Mayawati government while utilising the Central funds for such schemes.