Greenpeace India today responded to news reports, which claimed that the organisation's FCRA license has been suspended and a showcause notice has been issued to the NGO.
Though, Greenpeace India has so far received no official communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NGO said in a statement to the media that it is seeking legal counsel on the information that is available on the Ministry of Home Affairs' website.
Greenpeace India Executive Director, Samit Aich said: "This is a smear, pure and simple. 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. This feels like a revealing moment, one that says much more about the MHA than it does about Greenpeace. We believe in the Indian legal system. A campaign is being waged against dissent, but we will not be cowed."
On January 20, the Delhi High Court had directed the MHA to transfer the blocked foreign funds from Greenpeace International and Climate Works Foundation to Greenpeace India's accounts declaring MHA's actions to be arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional upholding the legitimacy of the issues that the NGO takes up in India. The High Court observed that the Ministry of Home Affairs in its reply had stated that Greenpeace India can have access to all other foreign funds except Greenpeace International as Greenpeace International has been put on a watch-list. But it was observed that no material was put on record against Greenpeace International.
Aich added that "We will continue to work towards clean air, clean water and inclusive development in India because we believe that every citizen is entitled to it. Our work is supported by people of this country and 70 percent of Greenpeace India's funds come from Indian donors."
Greenpeace India added 30,746 new supporters, taking its tally of financial supporters within India to 77,768. In all, the group received INR 30.36 crore, of which INR 20.76 crore was given by supporters within India.
