Government asks RBI to block foreign funds for Greenpeace
20 Jun 2014 11:52 PM GMT
The union home ministry on Thursday intensified its action against Greenpeace International and Climate Works Foundation by issuing a directive to the RBI to seek prior permission from the ministry for any donation to them from overseas contributors.
Speaking to the Millennium Post, MHA spokesperson KS Dhatwalia, citing Section 46 of The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010, said, ‘The ministry is bound to take strict measures if some NGOs misuses foreign funds, which they receive as donations. There are some issues, which came to our notice and we have sent a directive to the RBI.’
‘The government can give such directions for the security of the nation. Therefore any funds received by these NGOs will require a sanction,’ he said.
Sources said the move comes close on the heels of an IB report last week, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office and National Security Adviser, in which recommendations were made for putting foreign donations to Greenpeace and Climate Works Foundation on ‘prior category’ list so that permission is taken before any money flows in for funding their activities.
‘We have asked the RBI to inform all banks to this effect and also report if any government department or institution is receiving such funds from these two organisations,’ Dhatwalia said.
Meanwhile, challenging the IB reports, Greenpeace India claimed that the organisation was not merely surviving on funds from overseas. ‘We have enough contributors within India to sustain our pro-people activities,’ spokesperson of Greenpeace Bharti Sinha said. The NGO officials claimed they were intentionally targeted as it emerged as one of the primary voices opposing coal mining and nuclear power projects in India. They also alleged that the leak of IB reports is a ‘concerted effort by parties with vested interest to ensure elimination of any opposition.’
Samit Aich, executive director, Greenpeace India said, ‘It seems like government’s long term goal to remove hurdles for pushing fast clearances. But discrediting Greenpeace will not save the world from climate change. Ours is probably the last generation that can make a difference to curb climate change .’
Speaking to the Millennium Post, MHA spokesperson KS Dhatwalia, citing Section 46 of The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010, said, ‘The ministry is bound to take strict measures if some NGOs misuses foreign funds, which they receive as donations. There are some issues, which came to our notice and we have sent a directive to the RBI.’
‘The government can give such directions for the security of the nation. Therefore any funds received by these NGOs will require a sanction,’ he said.
Sources said the move comes close on the heels of an IB report last week, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office and National Security Adviser, in which recommendations were made for putting foreign donations to Greenpeace and Climate Works Foundation on ‘prior category’ list so that permission is taken before any money flows in for funding their activities.
‘We have asked the RBI to inform all banks to this effect and also report if any government department or institution is receiving such funds from these two organisations,’ Dhatwalia said.
Meanwhile, challenging the IB reports, Greenpeace India claimed that the organisation was not merely surviving on funds from overseas. ‘We have enough contributors within India to sustain our pro-people activities,’ spokesperson of Greenpeace Bharti Sinha said. The NGO officials claimed they were intentionally targeted as it emerged as one of the primary voices opposing coal mining and nuclear power projects in India. They also alleged that the leak of IB reports is a ‘concerted effort by parties with vested interest to ensure elimination of any opposition.’
Samit Aich, executive director, Greenpeace India said, ‘It seems like government’s long term goal to remove hurdles for pushing fast clearances. But discrediting Greenpeace will not save the world from climate change. Ours is probably the last generation that can make a difference to curb climate change .’
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