DC Debate: Bringing political party’s funding under RTI Act

Right to Information has brought transparency and accountability in government, in states and the Centre. Many important cover-ups and corruption case, including Mumbai’s Adarsh Housing society’s scam has been exposed. CPI and other Left parties, campaigned for RTI and made it a part of CMP during UPA-I for supporting it.

Then why do you oppose the political parties to be brought under RTI many people ask us. There are different problems for CPI and some other parties, to be included under RTI. The ruling of Commissioner of Information, that political parties are part of RTI as they get “Substantial Financial Help” from the government.

We do not agree with this judgment based on understanding of “substantial help” political parties get. Let us examine what is the substantial help.

1) Political parties are exempted from IT. 2) Some political parties are given land for constriction of party offices. 3) Time slot is allotted to national and recognized political parties in state channel and AIR. 4) Two lists of voters are supplied to political parties during elections.

We do not agree that this is a “substantial” help. These are the facilities provided by the government for better functioning of democracy.

Income tax is exempted for trade unions, NGO’s, trusts and also political parties. Political parties are not earning through business but by collections from the public. Yes, people have a right in democracy to know, from where funds are collected and how it is spent. But RTI is not limited to funds but many other things. Parties are submitting financial statements to Income Tax Department and also to the Election Commission of India. We do put it on the website from time to time.

Allotment of land for party offices is done on lease though we had asked for outright sale. We pay not only the lease amount, but also all taxes. We never asked for free land. The CPI took land on lease from the government in New Delhi only and in all other states we purchased plots from private people and constructed offices.

As for as time slot in the channel and AIR is to make the people aware of election manifestos and party programmes. This is an essential part of democracy. It is no favour to political parties. If the government does not provide it political parties with corporate support can purchase time slot and parties without financial resources will be denied the opportunity to reach the people. This is brought as part of election reforms.

All institutes declared as “Public Authority” will be brought under RTI. Political parties are not public authority and that definition is erroneous. It is not only a technical question. RTI Act imposes same burdens that all those who come under the Act should appoint an information officer to reply to queries and an appellate authority. (Suravaram Sudhakar reddy, General secretary CPI)

The state gave land and buildings either free or at throw away prices. Under the RTI Act, the public information officer will work under the supervision of their boss. Unless the boss is also liable under that law, people will not get any information. Political parties are real bosses of cabinets and government. How can the government answer if its boss is neither answering nor answerable?

They claim that they are servants of the people. The functioning of political parties is public in nature. Day in and day out they issue statements, lectures and talks but they don’t want to give information wanted by people. Their accounts are secret, donations get do not get disclosed. Expenditures are not published, unfulfilled promises are not explained. Unless they contest election, their crimes are not reported.

They offer several freebies to get elected. Not with their monies. They don’t implement them with even public money. Don’t answer why it is not implemented. Each MLA takes lakhs every month, but is answerable to none. They take pension from the public exchequer but are not accountable. Their performance should be questionable.

Every party has a parliamentary party at the national level and legislature party in states, where each member is paid for five years, besides huge allowances and subsidies more than what a BPL card holder is given. Yet they do not want to share information. Why don’t they tell periodically what they have done or not done?

The RTI Act provides two-way information, one voluntary disclosure, two when someone asks. Voters have the right to information from parties because they permit them to rule for five years. Each political party should declare that they will abide by the Constitution. Right to Information is part of freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (a). It’s also part of right to know under Article 21. Democracy means governance by discussion. How can people discuss without information.

The RTI Act says a body constituted by the Constitution is public authority and thus liable to provide access to their records. The Parliamentary party of each political party is constituted under the Constitution and bound to follow the tenth schedule of the Indian Constitution.

MPLADS gives crores to each MP every year. Should they not answer for each rupee of that public fund? It’s terrible that political parties want to rule without accountability. By law, Constitution, promise, contract and on ethical grounds, political parties should be under the purview of the RTI Act. If not, each party will be abdicating its responsibility and they don’t deserve to be in the public field. (Madabhushanam Sridhar, Central Information Commissioner)