It appears that the Congress government is evading the questions filed by the citizens under the Right to Information (RTI) act. Citizens and journalists alike are encountering a consistent pattern of denials or silence when they seek details about public welfare programs, funds allocated for these programs, and other governmental activities.
One glaring example is the lack of response regarding the allocation and expenditure of funds for government schemes and campaigns since the Congress government came into power. Questions about the funds allocated for promoting these schemes, the amount spent, and the outcomes remain unanswered.
CM Revanth Reddy’s frequent trips to New Delhi have also raised eyebrows. Reports suggest he has visited the national capital 20 times since assuming office, yet the state government has remained tight-lipped about the purpose and cost of these trips. When asked through RTI how much these visits cost, the government’s response has been silence.
The RTI Act was established to ensure transparency, giving citizens the right to access information from government offices. However, under CM Revanth Reddy’s administration, this right appears to be under siege. Many RTI applications filed in the last eight months are still pending, with officials either bypassing the requests or providing limited information.
Key RTI questions left unanswered:
1. How many times has CM Revanth Reddy’s team visited Delhi? What were the purposes of these visits, and how much did they cost?
2. How many state ministers traveled abroad from December 2023 to January 2024? What were the objectives of these trips, and what was the expenditure involved?
3. How many government officials and leaders accompanied CM Revanth Reddy to Davos? What was the itinerary, and how much did these trips cost?
4. How much has the government spent on the public administration application program? What was the cost of the campaign, including the printing of application forms?
5. Between December 7 and December 31, 2023, how many crores of pending bills were paid to contractors in the Telangana irrigation department? What are the details of these payments?
6. What measures has the Telangana government taken to control the high fees charged by private schools? How many inspections have DEOs and MEOs conducted in private schools, and what were the outcomes?
7. How many complaints have been received under the Praja Palana program launched by the state government? How many have been resolved, and what was the cost of maintaining this program?
8. How much district-wise funding has the Telangana government released for Telangana formation day celebrations held on June 2, 2024?
These unanswered questions are fueling concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the Congress regime.