Kolkata, Sep 7 (IANS): Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of shielding the "corrupt", the Congress Saturday claimed that cases of corruption were being exposed because the government passed the right to information (RTI) act.

"Our party and our government have never flinched from taking action against our leaders against whom charges of corruption have been made. But there are parties which shield the corrupt when allegations of graft are made," All India Congress Committee Communication Department Chairman Ajay Maken said here.

He added, "Even people against whom chargesheets have been given are protected when the need is for action."

Referring to the RTI act passed during the Congress-led first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime in 2005, Maken said it has given people the power to access the happenings in the government and the policies of the state.

Under the act, any citizen may request information from a "public authority" which is required to reply within 30 days.

"Things have come into the public domain because of the RTI act. It has empowered the people to seek information from the government and know what is going on," he said.