Moments after he drove down from Ralegan Siddhi to attend a function in Pimpri-Chinchwad, social activist Anna Hazare broke into a big smile to announce that the Central Government has accepted his suggestion for including ‘file notings’ in the Right to Information Act.

“My office in Pune has received a fax message from the PMO a few days ago. I received a copy of the message just now,” Hazare told The Indian Express. Waving the copy of the PMO’s message, Hazare said since the government has accepted his suggestion and promised to carry out the necessary amendment, he has decided to reconsider his decision to return the Padma Bhushan, “I am satisfied with the government decision and will not return the Padma Bhushan,” he said

Hazare said during a meeting last week even President APJ Kalam had requested him not to return the Padma Bhushan. “ The President promised me that he will study my suggestion and will get back to me. He has even promised to visit Ralegaon Siddhi in October,” Hazare said.

He however rubbished the governments claim that “ under RTI Act, the definition of the word ‘information’ never included file notings,” Hazare said, “It was very much there, but the government was not ready to implement it in entirety.”

Hazare said once file noting become an integral part of the Act, all the confusion would disappear “Except on external affairs matter or matter subjudice, file notings information should be made available and we hope the
government will include this in the current session as promised.

Hazare said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had not kept his word about appointing information commissioners. “ In last nine months, he has thrice promised me to appoint commissioners at divisional levels. But accept for
appointing the Chief Information Commissioner, Deshmukh has failed to act,” he said.