Despite the Congress high command harping that the Right to Information Act, “one of the biggest achievements of the Central Government”, should be promoted by all Pradesh Congress Committees, a party leader in Chhattisgarh has been sacked for filing too many RTI applications against various Government departments.

Congress sources revealed that Pradesh Congress Committee chief Charan Das Mahant has ordered the suspension of a Durg district office-bearer for “over utilisation of the RTI Act”, alleging that it was being used as a tool for blackmailing. The directive issued by Durg District Congress Committee chief Dhanaram Sahu states that, “Rakesh Mishra was being relieved of all responsibilities as member of its Urban Bodies Cell with immediate effect. The step is being taken as the several complaints of corruption received by the PCC have been found to be true.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, PCC chief Charan Das Mahant confirmed that Mishra had been relieved of his present charge. "We have found that Mishra had been blackmailing people by filing RTI applications,” Mahant said. However, refuting the allegations, Mishra said he was not even given a chance to explain his case. “The move to remove me has been taken under pressure from a few Congress leaders close to PCC chief Charan Das Mahant whose interests are being affected by my RTI applications,” he claimed. There seems to have been some pressure from the BJP Government too, as Mishra has so far filed over 100 RTI applications, with over 50 of them with various departments.

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