Tue Mar 04 16:33:27 UTC 2025: ## Congress Leader Raises Alarm Over Weakened RTI Act

**New Delhi, March 4, 2025** – Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has criticized the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, claiming it undermines the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The DPDP Act, passed two years ago, removed provisions from the RTI Act that mandated the disclosure of personal information in the public interest.

This amendment, flagged by activists since 2023, is seen as hindering government accountability and obstructing social audits crucial for preventing fraud in government schemes like ration distribution. The concern is heightened as the DPDP Act’s provisions, including the RTI amendment, are pending notification. The government is currently reviewing public feedback on the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025.

Kharge, in a social media post, argued that weakening the RTI Act contradicts India’s struggle against misinformation and disinformation. He emphasized that while privacy is important, it shouldn’t prevent the disclosure of information about beneficiaries of government schemes or those involved in fraudulent activities.

Anjali Bhardwaj of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) echoed these concerns, stating that the amendments severely restrict access to crucial information and obstruct accountability. The NCPRI has launched a signature campaign urging the government to revoke the amendment.

Activist Medha Patkar further highlighted the issue, arguing that protecting the RTI Act is crucial given the current state of Indian democracy. She pointed to the Narmada Valley case, where the RTI Act helped expose 1,600 fake registries, a feat she claims would be impossible under the amended act. Patkar alleges that the changes are not about data protection but information protection.

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