Security demanded for Uttar Pradesh RTI activists

LUCKNOW - Pitching in strongly in support of a Right to Information (RTI) activist, who was shot at allegedly for seeking information on irregularities in government welfare schemes, several social groups demonstrated here Thursday, and demanded adequate security for RTI activists in Uttar Pradesh.

“We condemn the attack on Amarnath Pandey and demand immediate arrest of the culprits. The attack has definitely raised a serious question over the security of those who are using the RTI as a tool for exposing the corrupt practices in government departments,” said Devdutt Sharma, a law professor and member of RTI Council of Uttar Pradesh.

“The government just cannot sit and watch such an incident. We want Chief Minister Mayawati should take strict cognizance of the incident and ensure no RTI activist is targeted for unmasking corrupt government officials,” he added.

Pandey, 50, was shot at in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra late Wednesday.

A case was filed against three people, including a block development officer (BDO), but police say they suspect that the activist could have named the government official due to some personal enmity.

Pandey, who is out of danger, has alleged he was attacked for exposing the corrupt practices of the BDO in the central government’s flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

“The attack on Amarnath Pandey is shocking and surprising. We want the government must act immediately and order an impartial enquiry into the matter. If government fails to pay heed towards our demands, we would hold demonstrations in other parts of the state also,” said Nutan Thakur, a member of National RTI Forum.