When the Right to Information Act (RTI) was enacted some time ago, it created an unprecedented wave of optimism and activity among the general populace. We heard a lot of stories where people exercised their rights and made the corrupt and the vicious bite the dust. Now with time, the enthusiasm has waned and I think the loopholes have been discovered and being used to avoid the same.

Certain informations related to national security were never covered in this act for justifiable reasons. But as the debate surrounding the N-Deal rages on, it brings about certain questions.

• Lots of time has been spent by the media and the experts discussing the pros and cons of the deal. But does anyone know the complete picture?
• The government keeps saying it is in national interest. So why can’t they stand up and declare a concrete assurance?
• Finally why can’t they make the relevant information public? It is an issue of national security. But for the same reason the public has to know the implications of it. Where is the transparency in the process?

Due to such reluctance in taking the people into faith, other parties have got the opportunity to create a pseudo-populist melodrama. The left parties are trying to create a sensation by posing as the greatest patriots. But when we see them warning the Samajwadi Party saying that supporting the N Deal would cost Muslim votes, we know that it is no patriotism and only petty votebank politics. Perhaps Mulayam Singh Yadav has done a good thing (one of the rare good things for him) by asking the PM to clear the doubts in public. But still we have not seen any positive development. Hope they realize it very soon and clear the doubt in our minds. After all this how they can save the government!

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