 "Govt freezes Greenpeace India bank accounts, suspends licence for foreign funding")
It froze seven accounts of the Indian arm of Greenpeace International with immediate effect. The ministry said in a four-page order the group had violated the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. “The central government is satisfied that the acceptance of foreign contribution by Greenpeace India Society has prejudicially affected the public interest, in violation of Section 12(4)(f)(iii) and has prejudicially affected the economic interest of the state in violation of section 12(4)(f)(ii) of FCRA 2010.”
The suspension is for 180 days and Greenpeace India has 30 days to make a representation against the order to the ministry.
To read the detailed order, click here
“All of this was put before the Delhi High Court when we brought a case against the Centre, and the court decided in our favour.
A campaign is being waged against dissent, but we will not be cowed,” said Greenpeace India Executive Director Samit Aich.
The ministry said Greenpeace India had under-reported the foreign funding it received, transferred some of it to an Indian NGO and other bank accounts, shifted its offices, and changed its executive committee members without informing the government.
On January 11, Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai was stopped from flying to London for a international conference. The Delhi High Court had quashed the circular issued against her.
Courts have also separately ruled against earlier decisions to block Greenpeace India’s funds. The government was asked to allow transfer of blocked foreign funds from Greenpeace International and Climate Works Foundation to Greenpeace India’s accounts.
A leaked report purportedly of the Intelligence Bureau had last year blamed groups like Greenpeace India for slowing economic growth through ‘anti-national’ activities. In his recent speech at the joint meeting of chief justices and chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned the judiciary not to be influenced by “five-star activists”.