Should a national level politician holding stakes in the government disclose one’s personal detail, when asked by the public? UPA head Sonia Gandhi or her children don’t really believe in this.
High Court dismisses appeal seeking information on Sonia Gandhi’s religion
Press Trust of India, Updated: November 29, 2010
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday dismissed an appeal seeking details of the “religion and faith” of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her children under the RTI Act, saying the petitioner was trying to encroach on their privacy.
“It is evident that the petitioner is making efforts to make unjustified inroads into the privacy of the individuals even if they are public figure and consequently the information cannot be made public,” a division bench of the High Court said.
Former Haryana DGP PC Wadhwa had sought details of “religion and faith” mentioned by Sonia Gandhi and her children during the last census under the Right to Information Act from the Central Public Information Officer (CIO) of the office of Registrar General, Census Operations, under the Union Home Ministry.
I want to make two points here:
1) Compare this case with the USA where world’s best functioning democracy exists. Here is what current President Mr. Obama said, publically: “I’ve been to the same church – the same Christian church – for almost 20 years,” Obama said, stressing the word Christian and drawing cheers from the faithful in reply. “I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible.” he said. (Ref: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22767392/ns/politics-decision_08/ ) So what makes Obama confident enough to declare his “personal” faith in public, while in India, we have to file an RTI request and still get rejected to know the “personal” faith of Sonia or Rahul Gandhi? Our democracy should think about it.
2) Congress party and UPA government supported the idea of “Caste Census” which is scheduled now at the expense of Crores of rupees. The census would gather data on people’s religion and castes. The exercise is done at the request (or threat) of casteist politicians like Mulayam and Laloo. The census is done so that the politicians can know the castes (and religion) of the masses. If it is proper; should not it be done the otherwise too? Don’t the masses deserve to know the religion and caste of their leaders, if they are made to reveal their “personal” religion and castes in front of the politicians?
I think we have a long way to become a proper democracy. At present our democracy is lost to suit the needs of one dynasty.
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