Congress core group meets to discuss RTI amendments, Telangana

The Congress Core Committee met Friday to discuss the strategy to be adopted in the monsoon session of parliament especially with regard to proposed amendments to the RTI Act and on the issue of creation of Telangana state.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi attended the core group meeting that went on for around an hour, during which the issue of ensuring smooth passage for the big ticket food security and land acquisition bills also figured.

"The RTI amendments were discussed, and it was decided to hold talks on the issue with political parties. The need for wider discussion on the issue was stressed," said a source.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath is to hold further consultations with political parties on the issue.

The government is planning to move a bill in parliament to overturn a Central Information Commission (CIC) order bringing six major political parties under the ambit of the RTI act.

The Telangana issue was also discussed, with the government set to take a final call on the statehood issue which has been hanging fire for many years.