Jethava was India’s sixth RTI activist murdered

“Amit Jethwa was a true fighter, and an aggressive RTI user. His mission would not remain in unfinished mode after his death,” said Harinesh Pandya who runs an RTI(Right to information) NGO in Gujarat.

Pandya said, Amit’s working style was to seek information first, and then on the bases of that information he would put the government machinery under pressure. If government would not work, Amit would challenge the government in court.

Pandya said, ff governments start working well effectively and efficiently on its own, the activists can rest and enjoy their life, but because the government doesn’t work enough, the activists have to fight for justice, and even have to sacrifice their life. So far in India total five RTI activists, fighting for public cause were murdered. Amit was sixth.

Copies of some documents of Amit Jethwa’s RTI application and petitions are available at Pandya’s Ahmedabad office. The documents show that Jethwa had asked information about alleged wrongdoings of Pipavav Port, Essar Oil, Gujarat government, Geology department, Mines department, Forest department, Reliance Petroleum, Ashapura mines, GMDC, and dozens of other departments and companies.

Pandya says, Jethwa’s paper work was solid, and he was not avoidable, as he was never ready to leave the issues half-finished or unfinished.