Blames AAP government for hiding its 'misdeeds' from public, says 9175 applications are pending with the Info Commission
CHANDIGARH: Mohit Mohindra president of Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) today questioned the AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann for hiding its "misdeeds" from public and not filling the vacancies of Information Commissioners as all the 10 posts are lying vacant for the last one year.
Addressing a press conference here, Mohindra said that Bhagwant Mann was not filling the posts of information Commissioners to block very damaging information against his government. He said that it was mockery of RTI Act brought by the Congress government led by Dr.Manmohan Sungh. He said that the sole aim of the RTI Act was to bring transparency in the government functioning. The AAP government is not only violating the RTI Act but also depriving the common citizens from their fundamental right of information, he added.
Mohindra said that AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann before elections had created a false narrative of forming a transparent government in the state but now, they are scared of public wrath if information which is very damaging, comes out in the public. He said that 9175 applications were pending in the Information Commission and there is only the Chief Information Commissioner who is unable to address the huge pendency of RTI cases.
Mohindra while exposing the lies of Bhagwant Mann government said that Chief Minister had earlier claimed that they have signed the MoUs worth 38000 crores for investment in the state. However, aa RTI information taken by RTI cell of Youth Congress revealed that only on MoU of Rs.2600 crores was signed with TAT Steels in the last two and half years. He said that AAP government was making false claims through its latest advertisements that they have signed MoUs of Rs.70, 000 crore investment.
He further said that PYC RTI cell in charge Jashandeep Singh had secured information that AAP had spent over Rs.7 crores on its rallies showing it as state functions. He said that Deputy Commissioner Bathinda had spent Rs.4.16 crores on a political rally of AAP in Mour Mandi held on December 17, 2023. He said that such 7 rallies were organised and government buses were misused. He said that similarly Civil Aviation department was refusing information on use of its aircraft and helicopter by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Even the appeals filed under RTI Act were dismissed. He alleged that public money was being spent on political activities of AAP leaders.
Mohindra said that government was bound to provide information under RTI Act within 30 days but either wrong information is being given or various departments not responding to the RTI quarries. He said that people of Punjab had given the mandate to AAP for transparency in the state government which is one of its promises. He said that Bhagwant Mann was asking people that government officials would come to villages to solve their problems but now CM is working on one agenda of keeping the information away from public domain.
Mohindra said that he would consult with the lawyers and seek judicial intervention to force the government to appoint Information Commissioners and implement RTI Act in letter and spirit. He also appealed to Chief Minister to take immediate steps to fill the posts of Information Commissioners.