Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Centre's `no'

The Centre's `no' to the Nanavati Commission's plea for a copy of the communication between President K.R. Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee does not help the cause of the right to information. The nation has a right to know who allowed the Gujarat riots to get out of hand and why. The media and activists who gloated over the bill as a major breakthrough will now realise that it is not so easy after all to make governments accountable and transparent.

David Peniel,
Tiruchi, T.N.

The UPA Government's stand is surprising. By blocking the factual information from reaching the Nanavati Commission, it has unwittingly confirmed as true the suspicion that the Vajpayee Government deliberately delayed Army deployment in Gujarat during the horrific riots.

Shahabuddin Nadeem,
Bangalore

The Centre's decision is justifiable. It must be admitted that by revealing the contents of the letter, no meaningful purpose will be served. It is a known fact that many times in the past, Presidents have had differences with Prime Ministers. In a federal set-up, the President has little scope to take a decision on his own as he is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers. Correspondence between heads of state and government is sensitive and classified in nature and should be treated as such.

K. Murlidar,
Chennai

Though there is a hue and cry that the Government's refusal to furnish a copy is against the spirit of the right to information, it appears that the decision is correct and is in the interest of the nation.

What public purpose is going to be served with the disclosure of information to the Nanavati Commission?

J. Dorairaj,
Chennai

While one should welcome the enactment of the Right to Information Act, the recourse to it should be for justifiable reasons and not for making any political gains. It is not the right per se but only transparency in government functioning that will make it more responsive to the aspirations of the people.

K. Ramamurthy,
Chennai

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