'One month left before shutdown', says Greenpeace

The Indian chapter of the non-governmental environmental organisation Greenpeace has funds to function for only one more month, company officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Greenpeace India is facing a financial crunch after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered that the NGO's domestic bank accounts be frozen.

"My staff deserve to know the truth. We have one month left to save Greenpeace India from complete shutdown, and to fight MHA's indefensible decision to block our domestic accounts," Greenpeace

India executive director Samit Aich said.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai expressed concern over the 'chilling' message that Indian society was getting through the ministry's decision.

"I fear for my own future, but what worries me much more is the chilling message that will go out to the rest of Indian civil society and the voiceless people they represent. The MHA has gone too far by

blocking our domestic bank accounts, which are funded by individual Indian citizens. If Greenpeace India is first, who is next?" she said.

Last month, the MHA suspended Greenpeace India's license to receive money from overseas and served it with a show cause notice for alleged violations of the FCRA, leading to the NGO to accuse the ministry of 'suppressing democracy'.