HindustanTimes Thu,13 Mar 2014  Not kept in the know Shailesh
Gandhi, Hindustan Times New Delhi, July 10, 2013 First
Published: 15:56 IST(10/7/2013) Last Updated: 09:24
IST(11/7/2013)  There are strong indicators that the government,
perhaps in tandem with other parties, is likely to amend the
Right To Information (RTI) Act. The amendment will either name
political parties as being exempt, or remove section 2 (h) (d)
(i) and (ii).  This could exclude all Public Private
Partnerships (PPP) and other bodies substantially funded by the
government, and might be achieved either by an ordinance or an
amendment tabled in Parliament.  Other amendments to constrict
the RTI may be pushed along with this. The ostensible purpose is
to undo the Central Information Commission's (CIC) decision,
which rules that political parties - substantially funded by the
government - are public authorities and have to come under the
RTI regime.  Political parties have not explained why they are
afraid of the RTI. They have only stated th