Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticised the Central government over the recently enacted data protection law. He accused the government of using the law to weaken the Right to Information (RTI) Act, thereby reducing transparency and accountability. His comments have triggered a fresh debate on the impact of the law on citizens' rights and governance.

What is data protection law?

The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act was passed by the Indian Parliament to regulate the collection, processing and storage of personal data. The government claims that the law is necessary to protect people's privacy in the digital age. However, critics argue that some provisions of the law give excessive power to the government and limit the public's right to access information.

Kharge's allegations against the government

Kharge has accused the central government of:

  1. Weakening the RTI Act: He claimed that the new law allows the government to hide crucial information from the public under the pretext of protecting personal data.
  2. Undermining transparency: According to him, the government is trying to restrict access to crucial documents and data that were previously available under the RTI.
  3. Hiding wrongdoings: He alleged that by restricting access to information, the government is trying to hide corruption and mismanagement.

Kharge warned that weakening the RTI will have a direct impact on democracy, as citizens will no longer have the right to effectively question government decisions.

Government response

The central government has refuted these allegations, saying that:

  • The purpose of the data protection law is to protect personal data and it does not affect the RTI Act.
  • It is necessary to protect sensitive information, including private details of citizens, from misuse.
  • The government is committed to transparency, but it must also balance it with privacy concerns.
Union ministers defended the law, saying that RTI will continue to work as before and only certain types of personal data will be restricted.

RTI activists and experts raise concerns

Several RTI activists and legal experts have supported Kharge's concerns, arguing that:

  • This law allows the government to reject RTI requests more easily.
  • It creates ambiguity, leading to confusion about what information can be accessed.
  • It could set a dangerous precedent, where the government can block public access to important records.
Experts believe that data security is important, but it should not come at the cost of transparency.

Political and public reactions

Kharge's statements have sparked heated debate in political and public circles:

  1. Opposition parties: Other opposition leaders have echoed Kharge's concerns, accusing the government of trying to suppress accountability.
  2. Civil society organisations: Several rights groups have urged the government to amend the law to ensure it does not undermine the RTI.
  3. Public opinion: While some citizens agree that privacy protection is necessary, others fear the law could be misused to restrict access to critical government data.

Impact on democracy and governance

The controversy over the data protection law highlights a key issue: the balance between privacy and transparency. If the law is used to block public access to critical information, it could:

  • Reduce government accountability.
  • Make it harder to expose corruption and inefficiency.
  • Undermine democratic institutions by restricting the flow of information.
On the other hand, if implemented correctly, it can ensure that citizens' personal data is protected while maintaining transparency.

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