THE UNITED Forum to popularize Right to Information Act organized a mass dharna at Indira Park, Hyderabad on Saturday, protesting against alleged violation of all norms and spirit of the Right to Information Act by the Government of Andhra Pradesh while selecting eight Information Commissioners. They demanded the government reconsider its decision and urged the Governor to reject state government’s recommendations in this regard.

The United Forum has also decided to organize `People’s Ballot’ all over Andhra Pradesh on February 15 and 16, to mobilize public support on their demand. Inaugurating the dharna, former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah lamented that the Government of Andhra Pradesh is acting against to the spirit of the Right to Information Act. While the Act proposes to select distinguished public personalities in various sections of the society, he alleged that it is now selection on simple political considerations.

Jana Chaitanya Vedika, president V Lakshan Reddy said that during `People’s Ballot’ they would seek the public view point on the selection process, involvement of active politics in office of profits, and the Information Commission.

United Forum state convenor, B Ramakrishna Raju lamented that Information Commission has become political rehabilitation center in Andhra Pradesh. He said that the government is diluting the Commission intentionally. Senior Advocate Muppalla Subba Rao said that the state government had shamelessly acted while selecting Information Commissioners and wondered that even the Leader of Opposition became part in this process. APSA Coordinator Ramesh, DBF Convener Shankar and Senior Citizens Association President, Dr Rao Chelikani also spoke on the occasion.