Ghate to continue fast till Info Comsnrs declared
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 18 July 2013 17:33 IST
RTI activist Rajan Ghate has decided to go ahead with his indefinite hunger strike while chief minister has announced that the high level committee would meet on 29 July to select the information commissioners.
Ghate has started his fast-unto-death since 16 July at Azad Maidan in Panaji.
Today is the third day of his indefinite fast, demanding immediate appointment of chief information commissioner (CIC) and state information commissioner (SIC).
The posts are vacant for over one year now.
The process of appointing the information commissioners, for the third time, had started by April end with chief minister Manohar Parrikar assuring in the Assembly to complete the procedure within one month.
Goa RTI Forum secretary Shrikant Barve told goanews.com that Ghate would continue his fast till names of the CIC and SIC are made known to the public.
Ghate, on the other hand, appeared upset with chief minister’s statement that the government could select persons outside the list of applicants.
“In that case, he should have not wasted three months in inviting applications or recommendations and shortlisting the names”, he said.
If the CM has done this whole exercise for transparency, then he should also make the public know the names shortlisted, said Ghate.
He also asked why the high level committee cannot meet immediately to decide the names instead of waiting for 10 more days.
The RTI Forum has decided to rally around Ghate at Azad Maidan till the names of CIC and SIC are declared.
