Cong urges workers to use RTI to expose graft, raise public issues

Lucknow: Calling the Right to Information (RTI) Act a powerful tool for strengthening democracy and ensuring accountability, Congress functionaries on Saturday urged party workers to use the legislation effectively to highlight public issues and expose corruption.

The remarks were made during a daylong workshop organised by the RTI department of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee at the party’s state headquarters in Lucknow.

The workshop was chaired by RTI department chairman, Pushpendra Srivastava, and attended by party office-bearers, workers and RTI activists from across the state.

Chief guest AICC national general secretary and UP in-charge, Avinash Pande, said the Congress had always stood for transparency and accountability in governance. He urged party workers to raise people’s concerns strongly using RTI provisions.

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai said the party had consistently worked to amplify the voice of ordinary citizens. He described the RTI department as an important organisational unit capable of exposing “anti-people policies and corruption”.

The workshop included training sessions on the effective use of the RTI Act, conducted by RTI activist Devendra Mani Tripathi. Discussions were also held on strengthening the organisation and improving coordination on public-interest issues.

The programme was conducted by RTI department vice-president Dr Amit Uthwal. Several office-bearers and activists, including Mahendra Srivastava, Seema Debnath, Ramanand Rajput, Shashank Saxena, Rama Ashish Maurya and Rajendra Srivastava, were present.

A lucky draw competition was also organised during the event, where selected workers and office-bearers were felicitated.