Disclosure of guest list of UPA's dinner a threat to national security: PMO
14 Aug, 2013
An application was filed with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details about the UPA-II's fourth anniversary dinner including the guest list, the expenses incurred and other arrangements.
The reply to the application given by the public information officer of PMO states that the requested information could not be provided as it might affect India's security. The reply said that the demanded information falls under Section 8(1)(a)
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, there shall be no obligation to give any citizen, information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence;
of the RTI Act as its disclosure might compromise national security.
Regarding the expenses incurred on the dinner held at the prime minister's official residence, the reply states that as the bills for the dinner is yet to be received by the Prime Minister's Office, the said information also cannot be provided.
The applicant, however, said that there was no question of threat to national security on disclosing the guest list as the event was telecast on the national television and alleged that non-furnishing of information was an attempt to cover up the lavish expenditure on the dinner. The applicant has filed an appeal to the appellate authority in the PMO whose decision is awaited.