Tussle over Ford foundation, Greenpeace being on India radar for funds acquirement
As expected, the repercussions of putting Ford Foundation on prior permission watch list for funds acquirement came to the fore with the US expressing concern over the manner in which Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA) has been applied.
Flagging concerns on the way both Ford Foundation and Greenpeace have been dealt with by Indian authorities for setting limits has sparked critical debate within Indian society. The US said it is seeking clarification from India on the issue.
"We are aware that the (Indian) ministry of home affairs suspended the registration of Greenpeace India and have placed Ford Foundation on prior permission watch list. We remain concerned about the difficulties caused to civil society organisations by the manner in which the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA) has been applied," said US state department deputy acting spokesperson, Marie Harf in Washington.
"We are concerned that this recent ruling limits the necessary and critical debate within Indian society and we are seeking a clarification on this issue with the appropriate Indian authorities," Harf added.
Invoking section 46 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010, the Union home ministry, flagging national security concerns, had asked the Reserve Bank of India on April 23 to "instruct all banks to ensure that any fund flow from Ford Foundation to any person, NGO, organisation may be brought to the notice of the home ministry so that the funds are allowed to credited into the accounts of the recipient only after clearance of this ministry."
The circular also asked for any instance that a government organisation receiving funds directly from this agency to be withheld and brought to the notice of the home ministry.
Prior to this, the Union home ministry accusing Greenpeace for grossly violating FCRA norms had frozen FCRA accounts of Greenpeace India, barred it from receiving foreign funds for prejudicially affecting the country's public and economic interests and had even barred their activist from traveling abroad.
Rebutting USA's intervention, BJP spokesperson, Nalin Kohli said it was India's internal matter and the US has no business seeking a clarification on the issue.
"I don't know if the US government has any right or any position to demand a clarification from the government of India. This is India's internal matter. Therefore, I don't see any case there," Kohli said.
However, US intervention has come as a shot in the arm for NGOs, especially Greenpeace as it hit back at the government saying, the government's actions will undermine India's standing in the global community of democratic nations.
"It is hardly surprising that the government's actions are now starting to attract international attention. India is right now seeking a far more active role on the global stage. Such actions back home will only weaken India's global image," said Samit Aich, executive director, Greenpeace India.
Prominent civil society activist, John Dayal said: "US and other governments know by now how intolerant the Narendra Modi government is to civil society and dissent, as they are aware of the human rights conditions and the threat to religious minorities by fundamentalist groups. It is ironic that the state uses draconian laws such as the FCRA, a product of the State of Emergency in 1975."
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