Ghate withdraws 7-day fast after CM assures
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 22 July 2013 20:29 IST
CM Parrikar giving coconut water to Ghate
RTI activist tonight withdrew his seven-day long indefinite hunger strike after chief minister Manohar Parrikar personally came and assured him to finalise names of information commissioners by 29 July.
While giving him tender coconut water to break the fast, Parrikar also assured to make all the shortlisted names with the bio data public on the government website by tomorrow.
He also assured to make names of all the applicants and recommendations public along with details of shortlisted names.
After breaking the fast, Ghate told the media persons that he would not hesitate to sit on hunger strike once again if the government postpones the decision any longer.
Shrikant Barve, secretary of Goa RTI Forum, said they have also demanded to keep 50 per cent quota for women while choosing a central information commissioner and state information commissioner.
Reacting to this, at Azad Maidan, Parrikar said he cannot assure in this regard since the decision would be taken by the three-member committee though he agrees with the demand in principle.
As an RTI activist himself, the chief minitster said he personally believes in transparency and people are free to send their comments after going through the shortlisted names.
He however felt that some people are misusing the RTI act either to blackmail or to create confusion by making only partial information public.
“Morphin cures cancer but is also misused as drugs. That does not mean Morphin is banned”, he said while assuring to work to strengthen the RTI act.
Trade union leader Christopher Fonseca, who mediated in the afternoon by requesting the chief minister to personally go and meet Ghate, expressed satisfaction that the latter’s efforts gained fruits.
Earlier, in the afternoon, Parrikar met members of RTI Forum to discuss the issue of appointment of information commissioners.
Bio data of shortlisted cadidates for CIC and SIC post.
http://www.goa.gov.in/cicdetails.html
Thank you CM.
CM Bab keep your word and preserve Goa for Goans...
Christopher Fonseca is tall Leader and should be a Cabinet Minister and should CM in the next Election...
RTI is the best thing to happen to the common man, where common man can make accountability for the Corrupt Government Officials corrupt practices and arrogant behavior. They should be told that this common man pay your Salary. Respect this Common Man. Finish their work within days or weeks and not in months.
Due to Mining the people of rural are are suffering and
Christopher Fonseca is sitting in glass house is collecting union subscription from the mine employees.
The people of rural area are happy due to closure of mines.
No person from Goa have died due to hunger for closure of mines.