Government using 'bullying tactics', alleges Greenpeace activist

Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai, who was barred from boarding a flight to London, on Monday alleged that her organisation was being targeted by the Government, accusing it of using 'bullying tactics'.

"The immigration stopped me and informed me that I will not be allowed to travel out of the country. I have a valid visa and this is not my first international travel but they said that my name is a part of a database given by the government of India that states that I am not allowed to leave the country," Pillai told ANI.

"When I asked to give this to me in writing, they did not do so, and put a stamp of 'offload' on my passport. The whole issue is that this is not the first time such a situation has taken place with our organisation - in September 2014, a colleague travelling from London to New Delhi was not allowed to enter the country. This is a bullying tactic," she added.

Pillai further claimed that the government was targeting Greenpeace specifically.

"I was on my way to London to talk to an all-party Parliamentary group on tribal affairs and Indo-British relations. We were travelling to London specifically because Essar, which is pushing for a coal mine in Madhya Pradesh, is headquartered in the UK. We were going to appraise the UK ministers on the human rights and environmental violations in the region," she said.

"They are trying to target Greenpeace constantly - they have frozen our bank accounts and we have a pending case in court," she added.

According to a statement by Greenpeace India, the organisation has formally complained over this 'arbitrary action' to the Home Ministry, the External Affairs Ministry and the Airport Authority of India and demanded a legal explanation for Pillai's ban on leaving the country.

A government response is still awaited.