TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Government’s circular making affidavit mandatory for citizens to apply for information under the Right to Information Act came in for strong criticism from South Goa Zilla Panchayat on Tuesday.
ZIlla Panchayat member Daya Pagi said it was shocked to read in the newspaper that the government has made affidavit mandatory for citizens before obtaining information under the RTI. He pointed out that the same Manohar Parrikar had exploited the RTI to obtain information and to keep the then Congress government under check. “Why is Parrikar so afraid about the RTI now? Why is he creating hurdles for the common man to assess information under RTI? Why should citizens go through the nightmare of swearing in affidavits by spending money and standing in queues outside the notaries and Mamlatdars? People of Goa need to have an answer from the Chief Minister”, she said, while demanding the withdrawal of the circular.
ZP Chairperson Nelly Rodrigues later told the media that the ZP has adopted a resolution demanding withdrawal of the circular mandating the affidavit.
Meanwhile, Pagi lashed out at the Parrikar government for not initiating inquiry into what he termed as an alleged fraud in the works carried out during the tenure of a former CEO and Accounts officer. “People of Goa had sent home the corrupt Congress. But, the Parrikar regime, who swears by zero tolerance to corruption is not only hesitant to order a probe in the works, but has given the officers prime posting,” he added.
