Congress government trying to turn Vigilance Bureau into its puppet by ending transparency
Shimla: BJP State Media In-charge and MLA from Naina Devi, Randhir Sharma, has strongly criticized the Himachal Pradesh Government’s decision to exclude the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau from the ambit of the Right to Information Act, 2005, terming the move unconstitutional and authoritarian.
Randhir Sharma said that a state government does not have the authority to alter or dilute a law enacted by Parliament. However, the Himachal Pradesh Government has taken a decision that, he alleged, undermines the spirit of the RTI Act and raises serious constitutional and democratic concerns.
He stated that the primary responsibility of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is to investigate corruption cases and ensure accountability in governance. In such matters, transparency is crucial. By removing the bureau from the purview of the RTI Act, the present Congress government is attempting to reduce transparency and shield its functioning from public scrutiny, he alleged.
The BJP leader further said that the government appears to be trying to use the Vigilance Bureau for political convenience and convert it into a puppet institution functioning according to the wishes of those in power. According to him, the decision reflects the government’s intention to conceal the functioning of the bureau and prevent information from reaching the public.
He also pointed out that the Right to Information Act, 2005 was enacted by the Parliament of India in 2005 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when the Congress party was in power at the Centre. The objective of the law was to bring transparency and accountability into governance. Ironically, he said, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is now weakening the very legislation introduced during its own tenure.
Randhir Sharma said the decision directly affects the core objective of the RTI Act, which is to empower citizens and ensure transparency in governance. By excluding the Vigilance Bureau from the RTI framework, the government has raised serious questions about its intentions.
He said the Bharatiya Janata Party strongly opposes the decision and has demanded that the Himachal Pradesh Government immediately withdraw the notification. According to him, the Right to Information is an important democratic right granted to citizens, and no government should attempt to dilute or weaken it.
He added that transparency and accountability are the foundations of democracy, and any attempt to restrict access to information is against the interests of the public. The BJP will continue to raise the issue and ensure that the people’s right to information remains protected.