NEW DELHI – The Government of India has cancelled the foreign funding licence of a non-profit trust run by a high-profile activist known for her vocal criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it misused overseas funds, is how AFP tells the story. But is the Indian Government actually trying to stifle any form of dissent by throttling sources of funding?
The Home Ministry has contended in an order Thursday (June 16) that the Sabrang Trust, run by activist Teesta Setalvad, made multiple violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
It came after a court sentenced 24 Hindus involved in a 2002 massacre during religious riots in western Gujarat state, when Modi was chief minister – a key focus of Setalvad’s campaigns.
The order claims that foreign funds were used inappropriately by Sabrang trustees to order food takeaways, as well as personal items including nail clippers, wet wipes and sanitary napkins, a copy of which was shared with AFP.
“This amounts to using the foreign contribution for the purpose not authorised as per provisions of FCRA,” home ministry undersecretary Deepak Kumar said in the order. The trust also illegally mixed foreign and domestic funds, the Thursday order said.
Setalvad, 54, has repeatedly accused the government of targeting her because of her fierce criticism of Modi following the deadly Gujarat riots.
“Never be scared of the actions of a bully who only knows the use of brute force. Right shall triumph,” Setalvad posted on Twitter Thursday. The Trust’s secretary said in a statement it would “actively explore all legal options to challenge the Home Ministry’s order”.
On Thursday, three UN human rights experts called on New Delhi to repeal the FCRA, saying it was increasingly being used to obstruct civil society access to foreign funding. “We are alarmed that FCRA provisions are being used more and more to silence organisations involved in advocating civil, political, economic, social, environmental or cultural priorities, which may differ from those backed by the government,” UN Special Rapporteurs Michel Forst, David Kaye and Maina Kiai said in the statement.
Through Sabrang and another organisation, Setalvad is known for her campaigning work for victims of the Gujarat riots that left more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, dead. Narendra Modi has long denied any wrongdoing over the riots.
The Indian Government led by Narendra Modi government has been criticised for an apparent clampdown on foreign-backed non-governmental organisations including Greenpeace and the Ford Foundation. But in reality, using FCRA as a tool to silence NGOs who supported ‘uncomfortable and embarrassing protests’ such as those of fishermen against a nuclear power plant, have been used by Manmohan Singh’s UPA government in the past .
Separately, Setalvad is also accused by Gujarat police of embezzling donations meant for riot victims and is being investigated by the country’s top police agency.
The move comes a few days after the Indian Government served notices to the well known human rights activist group Lawyers’ Collective , again alleging that they ‘misused’ funds by supporting campaigns backing LGBT rights and so on.
The Indian government last year suspended Greenpeace India’s foreign funding licence after accusing the watchdog of hurting the country’s economic interests.
It has also cracked down on the Ford Foundation, saying the US charity can no longer give money to local organisations without government permission.
Is it Home Ministry vs NGOs who won’t toe the line? added by NEWSNET DESK on
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