http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=313952&sid=NAT 

 

Lending musical fervour to the opposition to the government`s move to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, singer Palash Sen along with his band Euphoria is joining forces with the campaign against the proposed changes.

A `dharna` against the proposed changes to the RTI Act will be launched here on Monday with a musical performance by Euphoria.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Sen said the move to amend the RTI Act would take away powers from the common man, that had been achieved after a long struggle.

"We will raise our voice against the proposed amendment which will take away the power which the common man now has courtesy the RTI Act. I will sing songs about the struggles of the common man and the activists will address the gathering on the issue," he said.

"Right to information is right to justice. There has to be a public debate on the issue before the government brings any amendment to the act," he said.

RTI activist and Magsaysay award winner Arvind Kejriwal said that the demonstration, being organised by joint operation for social help, will continue up to August 25, the day when the monsoon session of Parliament ends.

"The act is for everybody. It is for the future generation. People are benefiting from the RTI Act. The government is now scared, hence it is trying to bring the amendments," he said.

Lucknow-based activist Sandeep Pandey said the movement was spreading all across the nation. "The response is very much encouraging," he said.

Noted activist Anna Hazare has already announced that he would launch a strike in Mumbai from August 9 on the issue.

The proposed amendments seek to block access to file notings and keep the decision-making process out of the reach of public scrutiny.