PMO: Have only one classified file, can’t share it under RTI Act

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 16

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has refused to share the details that led to mysterious death of India’s second Prime Minister late Lal Bahadur Shastri on January 11, 1966.

In a response to an RTI application filed by Jammu-based activist Rohit Choudhary, the PMO admitted that it possessed only one classified document relating to the former PM’s death, but it could not be shared as it was exempted from disclosure under the RTI Act, 2005.

“As per the record, this office has one file, bearing no. 2(579)/66-PM, regarding the death at Tashkent (USSR) of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri, having three volumes,” Parveen Kumar, Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO), PMO, said in response to the RTI application.

“The classified files/documents as requested by the applicant are exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, 2005,” the CPIO said while responding to the request of the activist to provide him certified copy of the classified file or document.

“I wanted to get all details related to the death of Shastriji so that all countrymen should come to know as what circumstances led to his death. It is unfortunate that the PMO has refused to share the details. It should put the document in public domain,” Choudhary, who is the national president of Kisan Welfare organisation, said.

Pertinently, the death of former PM, who gave the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, remains shrouded in mystery. What is more intriguing is that conspiracy theories about what caused Shastri’s death have not ceased.

Shastri’s death mystery

I wanted to get all details related to the death of Shastriji so that all countrymen should come to know as what circumstances led to his death. It is unfortunate that the PMO has refused to share the details. It should put the document in public domain Rohit Choudhary, Jammu-based activist