Sun Oct 12 10:15:01 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and its rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

On the 20th anniversary of India’s Right to Information (RTI) Act, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar criticized the Modi-led NDA government for allegedly weakening the Act since 2014. He pointed to amendments like the 2019 changes to Information Commissions and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 as examples of eroding transparency. This comes as Karnataka faces a high number of pending RTI appeals, ranking second in the nation. While championing the RTI’s role in empowering marginalized communities, Shivakumar also addressed allegations from the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association of increased corruption under the current Congress government. He reiterated the Congress party’s commitment to restoring the RTI’s independence and protecting whistleblowers.

**News Article:**

**Karnataka DCM Accuses Modi Government of “Eroding” RTI Transparency on 20th Anniversary**

**BENGALURU, October 12, 2025** – On the 20th anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched a strong critique of the central government, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of systematically undermining the landmark legislation since 2014.

Speaking from the Congress office in Bengaluru, Shivakumar highlighted the Act’s importance in empowering citizens and promoting government accountability. However, he argued that recent amendments, particularly the 2019 changes to Information Commissions and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, have significantly weakened the RTI’s effectiveness.

“The 2019 amendment diluted the autonomy of information commissions,” Shivakumar stated. He further claimed that the Digital Personal Data Protection Act’s provisions allowed critical public data to be treated as private, hindering public scrutiny and potentially shielding misuse of public funds.

The accusations come as Karnataka grapples with a significant backlog of RTI appeals, ranking second highest in the country with 47,825 pending cases, according to the ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2024-25’ by Satark Nagarik Sangathan (SNS).

While defending the RTI as a crucial tool for marginalized communities to access basic necessities and justice, Shivakumar also addressed allegations of increased corruption under the current Congress government in Karnataka. The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association has accused the government of “doubling” corruption compared to the previous BJP administration.

Shivakumar reaffirmed the Congress party’s commitment to restoring the independence of Information Commissions by reversing the 2019 amendments and ensuring fixed five-year terms for commissioners. He also emphasized the need for stronger protection for RTI users and whistleblowers.

“The Whistle-Blowers Protection Act was passed but never got operationalised,” he noted.

The deputy chief minister reiterated the importance of upholding the principles of transparency and accountability enshrined in the RTI Act, calling it a “lifeline” for those seeking justice and a vital instrument for a healthy democracy.

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