Greenpeace India lashes out at govt

Greenpeace India, which is under scanner for its foreign funding, today criticised the government, saying it was trying to "muzzle" voices of dissent in democracy in the name of financial scrutiny.
The NGO said that in the absence of any communication from the government, it was forced to believe that the MHA was attempting to "financially choke" and "discredit" it in order to proceed smoothly with its "pro-corporate" agenda.
Its statement came after the Delhi High Court sought the Centre's response on the NGO's plea seeking directions to the government that foreign donations of Rs 1.87 crore, meant for it, be credited in its bank account.

The court also asked the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to keep the freezed foreign donations as "interest-earning fixed deposit" till further orders.
Citing the court's direction, Greenpeace India said MHA was acting in an arbitrary manner in muzzling voices of dissent in democracy.
"The High Court's direction to the MHA throws light on the complete arbitrary manner in which the government has attempted to muzzle voices of dissent in democracy in the name of financial scrutiny.

"Greenpeace India follows all laws of the land and is completely transparent in its operations. But in the absence of any communication from the government, the NGO is forced to believe that the MHA is attempting to financially choke and discredit Greenpeace India in order to proceed smoothly with its pro-corporate agenda," Executive Director, Greenpeace India, Samit Aich said.

On July 17, 2014, the NGO had written to the MHA asking for relevant documents on the basis of which the foreign funding was stopped. However, the government has not responded yet, it said in a statement.
"We have not received any official communication from the Home Ministry. We demand that the government immediately respond to our queries," Aich said.