Unfazed by the allegation of 'intimidation' by Greenpeace after a senior activist of the NGO was prevented from catching a flight to London, the government today said it will seek a "report" from security agencies about the matter.
Priya Pillai, a senior campaigner for Greenpeace India, was stopped at the immigration counter at Delhi airport yesterday before she was to catch a flight to London to attend a conference there.
Asked to comment on the issue, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami told reporters today, "I have no idea (about the incident). Let me get a report... I shall seek a report."
Official sources said that Goswami was in the loop about a report submitted by Intelligence Bureau on the activities of Greenpeace, including of allegedly using funds collected from across the world to fuel agitations against development projects in India.
The Home Ministry had issued a Lookout Circular against Pillai last year after the report on Greenpeace was leaked to the media.
Speaking to reporters today, the Home Secretary did not specify from which agency he would be seeking a report in the matter. Bureau of Immigration and other security agencies function under the direct control of Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, asked about the environment NGO's allegation of governmental intimidation, Goswami laughed and said, "Greenpeace is making an allegation. That is one more allegation... What will it change?"
Pillai was scheduled to address British parliamentarians on January 14 on the issue of "infringement of rights of forest communities".
She was invited by British MPs to talk about her campaign with local communities in Mahan, Madhya Pradesh, "where a proposed coal mining project threatens to uproot the lives and livelihoods of the forest and the community which lives there", Greenpeace said.
Pillai today shot off a letter to Home Ministry seeking an explanation as to why she was forbidden from leaving the country.
"It is bizarre that the government chooses to inform the media about an alleged lookout circular against me which I have no knowledge of.
"I have been dedicatedly working for the rights of the most-marginalised communities in the country and protecting the environment. Does this lead to issuing of a circular that is meant for offenders?" she said in a statement.
The Home Ministry had last year directed the freezing of Greenpeace India's foreign funds over its alleged activities against corporates engaged in coal mining.
Greenpeace India has challenged the order in Delhi High Court and the next hearing in that regard is on January 20.
