Rakesh: I am happy to hear that . I have read several of Sarabjit's posts and have very much been enlightened with that . That is why this exchange disturbed me . With re: printing of my version, I can assure you that it was not easy at all . I met the local Bureau Chief , discussed with him, handed over all the related supporting documents and he said that he would read and come back to me . That was 14 July, the day the story broke and my cellphone remained busy for whole of the day as the same story was published in Navbharat Times, Amar Ujala, Hindustan, Rashtria Sahara etc etc . In subsequent days , I sent him additional documents via fax and sent several emails as well explaining my position . " I am working on it" he would say when reminded . and then " dont know why it has not been published . I will send it again ..." Exasperated, I barged into the office of the Editor of the Newspaper located 35 kms away from my house near Wazirpur Bus Depot , close to Pitampura TV Tower , on a very long Metro drive from Yamuna Bank . The news item came next day, but the tea and 1 samosa ( ! ) came almost instantly . (Are samosas in short supply, I asked to myself ? At the NBH.Org office in a strange ancient structure sometime ago , there also I got only one !! ) .
________________________________ From: Rakesh Agarwal <[email protected]> To: arun agrawal <[email protected]>; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; ps sharda <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Bimal Khemani <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, 21 July, 2009 1:56:09 Subject: RE: Hearing - Disclosure I.T. returnsof NGOs Dear Arun ji I can surely understand and appreciate your concern. The matter is sorted and there are no hard feelings. Indeed, S Roy is a knowledgeable person. No doubt about that. I have been hoping to meet him someday and convince him to work together on an RTI project. My hopes still remain. Congratulations on forcing the newspaper to print your version. I am sure it wasn’t easy. We cannot rely on the media for accurate reporting. With regards Rakesh From:arun agrawal [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 21 July 2009 14:01 To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; ps sharda; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Bimal Khemani; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Hearing - Disclosure I.T. returnsof NGOs Rakeshji: I am very concerned to read all this . How is this mud being splashed in the open ? I thought S Roy was an ethical and knowledgable person . Rakesh : * You are much younger to me in age so I take the liberty of addressing you as such .* Whatever the internal squabbles of NBH. ORG be , no one has the right to comment on internal matters . RTI Act provide or require any applicant to state the reason for filing the RTI , nor to what purpose the information so obtained wil be put to . Quite often , more particularly in case of NGOs , personal interests and public interests are inter related . The reason for all this messy business is that this seems to be an unmoderated portal where anyone can us his constitutional right of expression to denigrate anyone ( at the same time one could consider defamation if aggrived ) . On 14 July, Punjab Kesari in its NCR edition, published some defamatory remarks against me in respect an international NGO I am associated with and my transactions with it . I gave them hell threeatening to take them to Press Council and now today they have published my version . Another (bigger) story will come tomorrow . You must not take such things lying down and be satisfied with some comments on a portal , which not many take seriously . Earlier also I had noticed that some other groups were entering this forum and using it to air their own grievances . I put the entire blame at the door of the moderator , I believe Sarabjit Roy, the person whom you thanked in adbance for agreeing to come for the hearing on 15th July before IC (MLS) . Dr Arun Agrawal rom:Rakesh Agarwal <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: Wajahat Habibullah <[email protected]>; [email protected]; aruna roy <[email protected]>; aruna roy <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 21 July, 2009 0:29:32 Subject: RE: [rti_india] Re: Hearing - Disclosure I.T. returnsof NGOs Mr. Roy You have a remarkable quality of putting your foot into your mouth - the mouth that does not even wait for the hat to drop before expletives gush out of it like muddy water out of a broken sewer line. Yes, I am using RTI to settle private differences inasmuch as to serve public interest. You object? No, I am not "formerly with" NyayaBhoomi. The so-called third party is, and his son is ashamed of him. Let the court decide where the matter rests. No, the IT Dept did not make out a convincing case, let alone a "very". They are making a laughing stock of themselves, much like you do of yourself. You have accused everyone from God downward - including Wajahat, S. Gandhi, Aruna Roy - of being a CIA agent. It has now been conclusively proven that you are the only CIA - Certified Idiot of Asia. Rakesh From: rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com [mailto:rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com] On Behalf Of sroy1947 Sent: 17 July 2009 13:41 To: rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com Subject: [rti_india] Re: Hearing - Disclosure I.T. returnsof NGOs Has this order come up on net? The buzz on another egroup is that IT Dept made out a very convincing case during arguments that Rakesh Agrawal "formerly with" NyayaBhoomi was misusing RTI to settle his private differences. Hope the final order does not f*** up the scene even more. Sarbajit --- In rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com <mailto:rti_ india%40yahoogro ups.com> , Sidharth <sidharthbbsr@ ...> wrote: > > Dear Rakesh ji & Sarbajit Roy ji, > > Pls do your best at the hearing. Best of Luck. > > Dear Rakesh, > > Please raise the issue of 35AC exemptions. Much bigger moollah is > invloved there. > > Best rgds, > > Sidharth > > > > > On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 8:52 AM, Rakesh Agarwal <rak...@...> wrote: > > > > > > Exactly, Sir. Thank you. So are we meeting on 15th at 2:30 p.m.? Your > > presence will be of great help. > > > > Rakesh > > > > From: rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com <mailto:rti_ india%40yahoogro ups.com> [mailto:rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com <mailto:rti_ india%40yahoogro ups.com> ] On Behalf > > Of sroy1947 > > Sent: 07 July 2009 11:02 > > To: rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com <mailto:rti_ india%40yahoogro ups.com> > > Subject: [rti_india] Re: Hearing - Disclosure I.T. returnsof NGOs > > > > If information "relating to" an NGO is held by a public authority WHICH THE > > PIO INTENDS TO DISCLOSE IN RTI (there being no section 8 bar) a section 11 > > notice is issued to the NGO concerned to oppose disclosure. > > > > On the other hand if the PIO ON HIS OWN feels that a section 8 exemption > > applies to bar disclosure then where is the question of section 11 notice, > > because the PIO alone must defend his denial. This is especially so in cases > > where the Govt has granted financial concessions (like 80G) on the basis of > > material available to it. It is crucial that any citizen of India be allowed > > to examine the material (records) on the basis of which such administrative > > concession was given ON DEMAND - the non-disclosure of which shall only > > foster / perpetuate a regime of corruption. > > > > Sarbajit > > > > --- In rti_in...@yahoogrou ps.com <mailto:rti_ india%40yahoogro ups.com> <mailto:rti_ india%40yahoogro ups.com> , > > "Rakesh Agarwal" <rakesh@> wrote: > > > > > > A hearing is scheduled for 15.07.09 at 2:30 before Information > > Commissioner > > > Sh. M.L. Sharma, Delhi. I request presence of those who may want to > > present > > > their views before the Commission. > > > > > > Three hearings have been conducted into a matter involving disclosure of > > > income tax returns and other documents that the NGOs submit with the > > income > > > tax authorities to claim exemption u/s 80G. > > > > > > The public authority is seeking to deny information on the ground that it > > is > > > personal information whereas I am arguing that all NGOs, especially ones > > > seeking exemption, grants and subsidies, claim to work for the welfare of > > > public which is clearly a matter of public interest. NGOs cannot claim > > > protection from disclosure of information which is held by the Government. > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > Rakesh Agarwal > > > > > > Secretary, NyayaBhoomi > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
