Ghate begins indefinite fast for Info Commissioners
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 16 July 2013 17:45 IST
Rajendra Ghate (centre) with RTI activists at Azad Maidan
Rajan Ghate, a national awardee of Right to Information, started his indefinite hunger strike from today, demanding immediate appointment of chief information commissioner and state information commissioner.
Ghate is sitting on a indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan, under the banner of Goa RTI Forum.
Ghate earlier in April had withdrawn his decision of hunger strike following announcement by chief minister Manohar Parrikar to fill the vacant posts within a month.
Both the posts are vacant at State Information Commission for over a year.
This is the third attempt the Goa government is trying to fill the vacant posts as both the selected persons – Pandurang Nadkarni and Dr Pradeep Padwal – had withdrawn after they were appointed, amidst controversy.
Ghate had announced the decision of indefinite hunger strike at the state RTI convention held in Madkai on 21 April.
While the convention had also made a similar demand, Parrikar – on 23 April – had announced in the Assembly to begin the process of inviting applications and fill the posts within a month.
“He started the process by inviting applications within eight days, but the posts have still not been filled for nearly three months now”, Ghate told goanews.com.
He also said he has fully prepared himself for indefinite fast by practicing to remain hungry for several days and getting the body attuned to hunger.
He is also supported by several RTI activists, who have been gathering at Azad Maidan to support the demand.
