On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the Bengaluru office of Amnesty International India, for an alleged violation of foreign direct investment guidelines.
In a statement, ED said that Amnesty India “resorted to bypass the FCRA Act by floating commercial entity in the name of Amnesty International India Pvt. Ltd (AIIPL). This entity has received foreign funds through commercial route to the extent of Rs. 36 crore till date.”
Similar raids were conducted two weeks ago at Bengaluru offices of another non-profit, environmental NGO Greenpeace India, and other establishments associated with it, reported NDTV.
Amnesty India International, in a series of tweets on Thursday, said that the raids show a “disturbing pattern of the government silencing organisations that question power.” The organisation alleged that the government wants to “instil fear” among organisations.
After a crackdown on a no. of NGOs, Enforcement Directorate hits at Amnesty. The 10 hour long raid conducted at our Bengaluru office ended at midnight. Our staff fully cooperated with officials. We reiterate, our structure is compliant with Indian laws. #CrackdownOnAmnesty
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 25, 2018
ED raid on Amnesty India shows a disturbing pattern of the government silencing organisations that question power. It is clear that the government wants to instill fear among Civil Society Organisations. #CrackdownOnAmnesty
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 25, 2018
Over 5 ED officials raided Amnesty’s Bengaluru office. Ordered employees to not leave, shut their laptops and searched their desks. Employees were not allowed to use their phones to call friends and families. #CrackdownOnAmnesty
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 25, 2018
In a statement issued on Friday, Amnesty India Executive Director Aakar Patel said, “Government authorities are increasingly treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises. As an organisation committed to the rule of law, our operations in India have always conformed with our national regulations. The principles of transparency and accountability are at the heart of our work.”
He continued, “We could not agree more with the Prime Minister when he says that periods of repression, like during the Emergency, have left a stain on India’s history. Sadly, those dark days are now casting a shadow over India again. Instead of protecting human rights, as it vowed to do, the government is now targeting the people who fight for them.”
Activists and journalists condemned Narendra Modi government for ‘targeting’ the human rights organisation.
Raghav Bahl, Greenpeace & now Amnesty International. Modi govt will use IT, ED & CBI to harass & hound everyone who criticises it. We have never seen a more brazen destruction & misuse of Institutions in India https://t.co/ldC50KI7T6
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) October 25, 2018
Do pay attention to what the government is doing on the sidelines of the #CBIVsCBI circus–it has frozen Amnesty International’s bank accounts. It is effectively treating a human rights organisation like a criminal enterprise. https://t.co/zRSJqLgrIL
— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) October 26, 2018
So, now it’s Amnesty International’s turn! https://t.co/DKgmhIYGIr
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) October 25, 2018
Why is the Enforcement Directorate going after one nonprofit after another in Bangalore? Since morning ED officers are in all 4 floors of Amnesty International. This appears a similar exercise of what it has done with Greepeace. Mallya, Modi can escape. Nonprofits = state enemies
— Vinod K. Jose (@vinodjose) October 25, 2018
The Enforcement Directorate raids the office of Amnesty India @AIIndia for an alleged FEMA violation. One way to harass human rights activists. https://t.co/se0BYFeYB3
— Pranesh Prakash (@pranesh) October 25, 2018