On Thursday, the Opposition INDIA bloc called for the immediate repeal of Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP), arguing that it undermines the foundational principles of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

The demand was made during a joint press conference in New Delhi, led by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, who announced that over 120 MPs from INDIA bloc parties, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, have endorsed a memorandum to this effect. The document is set to be submitted to Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The press conference saw participation from prominent opposition figures, including MM Abdulla (DMK), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT), John Brittas (CPI-M), Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party), and Naval Kishor (RJD), reflecting a united front against the controversial provision.

Gogoi emphasized that civil rights activists have also raised strong objections to Section 44(3), which they claim effectively dismantles the transparency guaranteed by the RTI Act.

Under the original Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, public authorities could withhold personal information if its disclosure bore no relation to public activity or interest, or if it constituted an unwarranted invasion of privacy. However, this restriction came with a critical safeguard: the Central or State Public Information Officer, or an appellate authority, could override the exemption if disclosing the information served a greater public good.

In contrast, Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act amends this provision to allow government bodies to withhold any “information which relates to personal information” without exceptions or consideration of public interest. Critics, including the INDIA bloc, argue that this blanket restriction eliminates the balance between privacy and transparency that the RTI Act sought to maintain, effectively shielding government actions from scrutiny.

Gogoi described the amendment as a direct assault on democratic accountability, stating, “This change destroys the spirit of the RTI Act, which has been a cornerstone of citizens’ rights to information. We cannot allow such a rollback of transparency.” The opposition’s push to repeal the section underscores broader concerns about the government’s approach to data protection and its potential to erode public access to information.

China on Thursday, April 10, reiterated its commitment to promoting peace in the Ukraine conflict while cautioning against “irresponsible remarks” from relevant parties, in an apparent response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent allegations.

Zelensky had claimed on Wednesday that 155 Chinese citizens were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, a statement that drew sharp rebuttals from both Beijing and Moscow.

During a regular news conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized China’s neutral position, stating, “I would like to reiterate that China is neither the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis nor a participating party. We are a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement.”

Without directly naming Zelensky, Lin urged all concerned parties to “correctly and soberly understand China’s role and refrain from making irresponsible statements.”

China, which has maintained a “no-limits” strategic partnership with Russia since early 2022, has positioned itself as a mediator in efforts to end the war, avoiding any direct criticism of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February of that year.

Lin also reiterated Beijing’s official guidance to its citizens, urging them to avoid armed conflict zones and “refrain from participating in military actions on either side.”

Zelensky’s comments stemmed from reports of two Chinese nationals captured by Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops have been making gains. He alleged that Russia was recruiting Chinese citizens through social media, with the knowledge of Chinese officials, and that Ukraine’s security services had compiled detailed lists including names, birth dates, and military unit assignments of these individuals.

Zelensky further suggested that Ukraine was investigating whether these recruits were acting under instructions from Beijing, labeling their involvement as Russia’s “second mistake” in the war—following what he and Western nations describe as the deployment of over 11,000 North Korean troops to Russia’s Kursk region.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin, on the same day, dismissed Zelensky’s assertions that China was being drawn into the conflict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “This is not the case. China maintains a balanced position. China is our strategic partner, friend, and comrade.” Peskov argued that Moscow was not pulling Beijing into the fray and countered, “Zelenskyy is wrong.”

The backdrop to these exchanges is the deep ties between Russia and China, which were formalized days before President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This partnership has allowed both nations to coordinate closely on geopolitical issues, with China often acting as a counterbalance to Western influence.

On Thursday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Union government’s decision to refrain from waiving loans for those impacted by the landslides in Wayanad last July, calling it a “betrayal.”

As the Member of Parliament representing Wayanad, Priyanka highlighted a recent affidavit from the central government submitted to the Kerala High Court, indicating that the loans could only be rescheduled or restructured in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India’s Master Directions on Natural Calamities.

“The victims of the Wayanad landslides have lost everything: their homes, land, and livelihoods. Yet, the government remains unwilling to provide even a basic loan waiver. Instead, they are offered only loan rescheduling and restructuring, which is not genuine relief. This is a betrayal,” she stated in a Facebook post.

Priyanka further expressed her condemnation of the government’s indifference, stating that she and her party stand in solidarity with the affected individuals in Wayanad. “Their suffering will not be overlooked. We will continue to amplify their voices until justice is achieved,” she asserted.

The Centre’s affidavit was submitted in response to a query from the High Court concerning the possibility of waiving the loans taken by those affected. The Union Finance Ministry noted that a special meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) of Kerala took place on August 19 of the previous year, which was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This meeting resulted in the decision to apply relief measures as outlined in the RBI’s guidelines on natural calamities.

According to the RBI’s Master Directions, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, financial relief measures include the restructuring or rescheduling of existing loans, which offers a one-year moratorium along with the possibility of new loans.

This affidavit was submitted in relation to a Public Interest Litigation initiated by the court following the Wayanad landslides, aimed at enhancing disaster prevention and management strategies in Kerala. A significant landslide occurred on July 30 of last year, devastating the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions.