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ABVP activists stage protests in B’luru against Amnesty

The India chapter of Amnesty International, on its part, rejected as “without substance” the allegations raised by the ABVP, the student outfit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and claimed that none of its employees raised anti-India slogans at any point.

The ABVP activists, who clashed with cops, protested against the rights organisation and demanded the arrest of those, who allegedly raised slogans against India and the Army at a panel discussion on Saturday. They also demanded action against Amnesty International. The event was organised by Amnesty India as part of a campaign to seek justice for “victims of human rights violations” in J&K.

“The police have filed an FIR against Amnesty International India. The police are examining the video and CCTV clippings to identify the pro-freedom Kashmiris who raised independence slogans at the event,” said Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.

Asked if Amnesty India Executive Director Aakar Patel is likely to be arrested, Parameshwara said, “Not to my knowledge. Not at the moment.” ABVP activists had submitted a CD, containing video recording of the event, after filing a police complaint. The police had on Monday registered an FIR against Amnesty International.

In a statement, Amnesty India said that allegations in the complaint by the ABVP representative against it were without “substance” and that only discussion at the event was about allegations of human rights violations and denial of justice in Jammu and Kashmir.

“No Amnesty International India employee shouted any slogans at any point,” the human rights organisation said, referring to allegations that “slogans were raised that Indian Kashmir should be part of Pakistan.”

Various IPC sections and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony have been invoked against Amnesty. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said “Police are enquiring. An FIR has been registered.”

MHA launches probe into FCRA violation by Amnesty
Amidst allegations of anti-India slogans being raised at an Amnesty event in Bengaluru, the Home Ministry has launched a probe into the funding of the NGO, its expenses and "possible" violation of FCRA by it. The probe is being carried out under the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to find whether there was any violation of the laws by the India chapter of Amnesty International, a Home Ministry official said. The NGO has not been registered under the FCRA and its application for registration under the FCRA is under serious scrutiny, following the Bengaluru event, where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised during a discussion on Kashmir on Saturday. The probe will see if the India chapter of Amnesty International has received foreign funds and if so under what laws, other sources of funding, it expenses and patterns of expenses, the official said. 
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