Forty-nine year old RTI Activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya loves to call the Right to Information (RTI) applications he has filed till now his “Saturday-Sunday passion.” Yet he makes sure that the information he has received reaches the general public through the media. He is neither a journalist nor a part of any NGO or social organization, but just an informed citizen who wants to make a lasting difference to the life of the common man. Some of his RTIs have resulted in not only creating public awareness but also pressurizing the government to take remedial action. Today he was in conversation with INVC’s Sub Editor Sonali Bose regarding his latest Complaint which is filed to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner over the timing and intentions of the Congress led UPA Government declaring BHARAT RATNA to Sachin Tendulkar.
Sonali Bose: Dev Ashish ji what made you to question the timing of declaring ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Sachin Tendulkar?
Dev Ashish Bhattacharya: I can say that, a sinking person holds the straw for the rescue. All the norms of the Model Code Of Conduct were thrown in the wind when ,perhaps, a sudden phone call from Wankhede Stadium put the Prime Minister on overtime to prepare a draft to bestow Bharat Ratna on Sachin Tendulkar and got that signed by the President.
Sonali Bose: And what do you think why did President sign it?
Dev Ashish Bhattacharya: This time Pranab Da committed a silly mistake by signing the totally illegal proposal of Manmohan Singh and perhaps this is the first such mistake on which he is going to smile on morning tea forever.
Sonali Bose: But the fans of Sachin Tndulkar across the country and Overseas must be very happy?
Dev Ashish Bhattacharya:Crores of the fans-voters of Sachin Tendulkar of the poll bound states will certainly thank Indian National Congress for bestowing Bharat Ratna on him AND THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN THEY WILL GET INFLUENCED WHILE EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO FRANCHISE which is supposed to be free and fair as per the provisions of the Model Code Of Conduct.
Sonali Bose: So where have you filed the complaint?
Dev Ashish Bhattacharya: Complaint is filed to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner for immediate necessary and exemplary action on the issue OTHERWISE IN COMING YEARS LOTS OF BHARAT RATNAS WILL BE ON DISPLAY DURING ELECTION DAYS TO INFLUENCE THE VOTERS ON CAST, RELIGION,AREA AND COMMUNITY BASIS.
Sonali Bose: Is the timing only the issue or you are trying to prove something else too?
Dev Ashish Bhattacharya: Yes Exactly, I am very much trying to reason out the main cause of this declaration.On one hand the Lokayukta post is vacant in Delhi because of the Model Code Of Conduct on the other hand the ruling party in the center could not wait for 20 odd days to provide Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar?
Sonali Bose: Are you saying that the intentions of the government are malicious?
Dev Ashish Bhattacharya: There INTENTION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND THE ELECTION COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO ACT ON THIS ISSUE PARTICULARLY WHEN THE GOVT. DID NOT HAVE THE BASIC COURTESY TO SEEK THE PERMISSION FROM THE POLL BODY.
