Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday, October 24, accused the Congress-led Keralam government of “suppressing transparency and protecting the corrupt” by exempting two sections of the state Vigilance department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

In a statement, the Leader of Opposition alleged that the move was intended to conceal files relating to corruption allegations against political leaders and elected representatives.

He charged the government with curtailing the public’s right to information to hide alleged irregularities committed since assuming office and those planned in the future.

According to Vijayan, the notification came after Vigilance records concerning the Chief Minister had surfaced, and the government was trying to protect influential people accused of corruption.

‘Congress betraying own commitment to RTI’

He also accused the Congress of “betraying” its professed commitment to the Right to Information Act, which he said had emerged as a public tool during the UPA regime following sustained pressure and intervention by the Left.

Questioning the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Vijayan asked whether the Congress high command had tacitly approved what he described as an “anti-people move” to restrict citizens’ right to know.

He said people in Keralam would not accept attempts to protect those accused of corruption.

The state government recently issued a notification bringing the T1 and T2 sections of the VACB directorate under the exemption granted to intelligence and security organisations under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act, 2005.

The state government had earlier exempted eight state intelligence and security organisations from the law in 2006.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had defended the decision, saying confidentiality was essential for Vigilance investigations and functioning.

He had also claimed that the T sections did not, in reality, fall under the purview of the RTI Act.

BJP leaders had also criticised the move.

BJP national secretary K Surendran alleged that the exemption was intended to shield corrupt persons, claiming that the sections handled confidential files relating to corruption cases involving the chief minister, ministers, political leaders and senior officials.