Part 2 of my talk with Mr. Shailesh Gandhi about his life before and after RTI…

I was always actively involved in discussions and debates surrounding communalism and secularism. But now, I was planning to devote all of myself to this. Hence, in 2003, I decided to sell off my business to devote myself towards RTI. I could not think of managing the business along with pursuing my newfound goals.

Just at that time, Maharashtra had got a good RTI Act. In September 2003, Suchitra Dalal had called a general meeting at her house of about 20-25 concerned citizens to discuss the further course of action.

Mr. Kewal Semlani bought up the RTI in this meeting and explained how it would facilitate getting information from the government.
Y.P Singh was also present there. He was an IPS officer on the verge of quitting after improving the system drastically. He bought up the idea of how one should use RTI to enquire about political interference in police trabsfers.

Subsequently, I asked Mr. Simlani about the procedure of filing an RTI application. He guided me about the due laws and procedures and asked me to get a copy from Government Press, Charni Road.
The next day, I got a copy of the same and filed my first RTI application asking for names of police officers who were recommended for transfer by various ministers, MPs, MLAs, etc.

To be continued...