New Delhi: Ever since Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of India, the PMO has recorded a sharp rise in the number of RTI pleas related to the BJP strongman. These queries range from the bizarre to downright hilarious.
“Was Prime Minister Narendra Modi a part of any Ramlila troupe before he came into politics?” This is one of the many queries about PM Modi raised by applicants through the Right to Information Act, says a report in The Indian Express.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) gave a cryptic reply to the particular question, saying that the “information sought is not part of record.”
Several such queries and replies have been posted by the PMO on its official website. Let’s take a look:
1. Replying to an RTI which sought to know how many sick or casual or health leaves have been availed by the PM in the last 10 years, The PMO replied, “No leave have been availed by the present Prime Minister since taking over the office on May 26, 2014.”
On whether Modi follows any official working hours, the RTI reply said, "He's on duty all the time"
2. An interesting application sought information about “how many and which type of cylinders” were “used in (the PM’s) kitchen” in October 2014 and May 2015. He further asked for “copies of bills of cylinders” and “copies of bills of spices” bought in May 2015. The PMO relied, stating that the kitchen expense of the Prime Minister is personal in nature and not incurred on government account.
“PM Modi pays the bills for his kitchen at 7 Race Course Road because he believes it is personal in nature,” the PMO further added.
3. According to the report, an applicant asked for the records and documents which showed that PM Modi was “Prime Servant of India and not the Prime Minister”. Here is PMO’s reply to the query – “There is no proposal to change the official designation of PM.”
4. Another applicant asked whether one could get access to PM Modi’s mobile number. On this, the PMO replied, “The PMO has not given any mobile phone to Prime Minister.”
5. Has the Prime Minister read the Indian constitution or has anyone in the PMO till date told the Prime Minister what his duties are towards India? “Information sought does not fall under the definition of information,” replied the PMO to the RTI query.
6. Another RTI revealed that, Modi loves eating Gujarati food, especially bajra roti and khichdi made by his cook Badri Meena.
7. A bizarre plea had asked about the speed of internet at the PMO and 7, RCR. And the reply was 34 Mbps.
8. Once there was a query linked to PM's Principal Secretary, Nripendra Misra. The question was: “Has he taken his subordinates on a picnic ever and how much money was spent on it?” The PMO replied: “There has been no picnic or excursion organised by PM's office or the Principal Secretary”.
9. One query asked after the number of iftar parties PM Modi had attended in 2014 and 2015. The PMO's blunt answer to that was "none".
10. In another RTI query reply, the PMO said Narendra Modi himself manages his personal Twitter and Facebook accounts. But when it comes to the PMO's official social media accounts, his office manages it.
