Vijayan Questions Congress Govt’s Transparency After RTI Exemption for Vigilance Sections

CPI(M) veteran and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday 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, Vijayan alleged that the move was intended to conceal records related to corruption allegations against political leaders and elected representatives. He claimed the decision curtailed citizens' right to information and could help hide alleged irregularities committed since the government assumed office, as well as those planned in the future. Vijayan said the notification came after Vigilance records concerning the chief minister had surfaced, alleging that the government was attempting to protect influential people facing corruption accusations.

Questioning the Congress's commitment to transparency, he said the party had betrayed its professed support for the RTI Act, which emerged as a significant public accountability tool during the UPA regime following sustained pressure and intervention by the Left. He also questioned whether the Congress high command had tacitly approved what he described as an anti-people decision, asserting that people in Keralam would not accept attempts to shield those accused of corruption.

The state government recently issued a notification bringing the T1 and T2 sections of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) directorate under the exemption granted to intelligence and security organisations under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act, 2005. The government had earlier exempted eight state intelligence and security organisations from the law in 2006.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala defended the decision, stating that confidentiality was essential for Vigilance investigations and the department's functioning. He also maintained that the T sections did not, in reality, fall within the purview of the RTI Act.

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