CIC asks BJP parliamentary party why it shouldn’t come under RTI Act

NEW DELHI: Why should the BJP parliamentary party not be declared a public authority and brought under the ambit of the RTI Act?

That’s the poser from the Central Information Commission (CIC), which has asked the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha, the leader, deputy leader of the House or “any other authorised representative” to reply on the issue at 2 pm on September 7.

The CIC’s recent query follows an RTI application filed by Vishnu Dev Bhandari from Bihar who wanted to know how projects are chosen under the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and their progress in his constituency Madhubani, represented by the BJP’s Hukumdev Narayan Yadav.

While Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu’s recent order specifically addresses the BJP and was sent to ‘The Secretary, BJP Parliamentary Party’, it also brings in other political parties in its observations. (AGENCIES)