RTI activist goes on hunger strike

A Goa-based RTI activist today went on a day-long token hunger strike here to protest alleged "government's action of pressurising officials not to provide information under RTI."
Activist Sudip Tamankar, who was recently booked by Panaji police for unlawfully taking away documents from the law department and abusing a lady government officer, sat on a day-long hunger strike at the Azad Maidan here.
Talking to reporters at the protest site, Tamankar alleged that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was pressurising the government officials not to give information under RTI.
The hunger strike is supported by the Congress party and Goa RTI forum, he said.

He alleged that RTI activists were being harassed by BJP-led government, by either denying or delaying information under the Act.
Tamankar said on April 1, 2013, he had filed total 28 applications in various departments, including law department, seeking information about the amount spent on state Advocate General for fighting different cases in the courts.
"Till April 30, all departments furnished details except for law department. Several reasons were citied for not providing information. After I threatened to go on a hunger strike, false and incorrect information was provided to me on October 25 morning, the same day when the complaint was filed in police against me," he alleged.

When contacted, the chief minister's office refused to comment on the issue.