India on Tuesday criticized statements by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressing concern about restrictions on foreign funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in India and the arrest of activists in the country.
Bachelet specifically cited as “worrying” the use of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which prohibits the receipt of foreign funds “for any activity harmful to the public interest.”
“We have seen some comments from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on an issue related to the Foreign Tax Regulation Act (FCRA). India is a democratic political organization based on the rule of law and an independent judiciary. The making of laws is obviously a prerogative, “the Foreign Ministry (MEA) said in a statement.
“However, violations of the law cannot be tolerated under the pretext of human rights. A more informed view of the matter was expected from a UN body,” he added.
Bachelet previously called on the Indian government to “safeguard the rights of human rights defenders and NGOs, and their ability to carry out their crucial work on behalf of the many groups they represent.”
“India has long had a strong civil society, which has been at the forefront of innovative human rights advocacy at home and around the world,” he said in a statement. “But I am concerned that more and more loosely defined laws are being used to stifle these voices.”
Bachelet said the FCRA, which was adopted in 2010 and amended last month, has been invoked over the years to “justify a number of highly intrusive measures, ranging from official raids on NGO offices and freezing bank accounts. , up to suspension or cancellation of registration, including civil society organizations that have engaged with the UN human rights bodies.
“I am concerned that such actions based on loosely defined ‘public interest’ grounds leave this law open to abuse, and that it is in fact being used to deter or punish NGOs for reporting and defending human rights that authorities perceive as critical. in nature, he said.
In accordance with the amended FCRA, the provision of Aadhaar numbers by NGO officials has become mandatory for registration. The law also provides for the reduction of administrative expenses of any NGO that receives foreign funding, from 50% to 20% of the annual funds to guarantee spending on its main objectives. Union Household Minister Nityanand Rai had said in Parliament that the legislation was not against any NGO and was an effort to maintain transparency.
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