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The Centre could pass the Prevention of Corruption Act (amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, but the amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act are stuck in the Upper House.
The Opposition objected to certain clauses in the RTI Bill and alleged that it is a dilution of the original Act.
The Centre explained that the amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act is a step towards changing the “economic behaviour” so that it can lead to “behavioural change” in society. The Opposition urged the Centre not to equate a greedy bribe-giver and a bribe-giver who is paying bribe out of pressure and coercion. The amendment makes taking and giving bribes a punishable offence. It was brought in by the UPA government in 2013 to tame the “supply side” of corruption.
“There could be a bribe-giver who is greedy, who wants to make money illicitly, illegally, who wants to give bribe, induces the officer, tempts the officers concerned or officials concerned, gives the bribe. You have to punish both,” Congress leader Anand Sharma said, taking part in the debate. “Even for the provision of public services, money is extracted under duress from people. Will you equate them to the bribe-giver who is a big corporate entity or somebody having a big business empire or a poor man from whom money is extorted under threat, under duress?” he asked.
On the RTI amendments, the Opposition parties maintained at a meeting of floor leaders that the amendments cannot accepted. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. Sources said the Centre is working on a strategy to evolve a consensus and the Bill could be sent to a select panel of the Upper House.
Rahul objects to changes
Earlier, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the RTI amendments must be opposed by every Indian. “Every Indian deserves to know the truth and the BJP wants to hide the truth. The BJP believes the truth must be hidden from the people and they must not question people in power. The changes proposed to the RTI will make it a useless Act,” he said.
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