The human rights body says it closed its operations due to continued government crackdown over the past two years and the freezing of its bank accounts.
Amnesty International says it is halting work in India due to “continued repression” and “harassment” by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The rights group said its office bank account in India was frozen by the right-wing government, forcing it to lay off staff and halt campaign and investigative work in the South Asian nation.
He also accused the government of carrying out an “incessant witch-hunt” campaign against human rights organizations on “unfounded and motivated” accusations.
“The continued crackdown by Amnesty International India over the past two years and the total freezing of bank accounts is not accidental,” Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India, said in a statement Tuesday.
“The constant harassment by government agencies, including the Law Enforcement Directorate, is the result of our unequivocal calls for transparency in government, most recently for accountability from the Delhi police and the government of Delhi. India regarding the serious human rights violations in the riots in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
“For a movement that has done nothing but speak out against injustice, this latest attack is akin to freezing dissent.”
The Indian government has not commented on Amnesty’s allegations.
Al Jazeera attempted to contact various spokespersons for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but received no response at the time of publication.
Activist Kavita Krishan told Al Jazeera that it was a “very deliberate” attempt to strangle an international human rights organization by the Indian government.
“It is a direct attempt by the Indian government to tell an international human rights group that if it documents the rights violations committed by the Indian state, we will not allow it to continue operating in India,” said Krishnan, who is also secretary of All India. Association of Progressive Women (AIPWA).
“I think this raises a big question that the world needs to wake up and recognize that India is no longer a functional democracy.
“We need to wake up and understand what is happening to rights defenders in India, many of whom are in jail under draconian laws,” he said.
