Greenpeace to challenge Tamil Nadu ban

Environmental NGO Greenpeace India on Friday said it would fight the cancellation of its registration by the Tamil Nadu government in the legal forum.

Citing the cancellation of of its registration as a society by the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies, Greenpeace' interim executive director Vinuta Gopal in a statement said: "We are confident that we are on strong legal ground. We have faith in the legal process and are confident of overcoming this order."

Alleging the registrar of societies) is clearly acting under directions from the union home affairs ministry "which has been trying to shut Greenpeace India down for over a year now", she said: "The MHA's clumsy tactics to suppress free speech and dissenting voices are turning into a major national and international embarrassment for this government."

Calling the measure "an extension of the deep intolerance for differing viewpoints that sections of this government seem to harbour" Gopal said: "The registrar has passed this order without granting Greenpeace a hearing, and without complying with the Madras High Court order to address each of our points and queries.

This is a blatant attempt to circumvent the legal process and shows no respect for the law."