Amnesty asays work in India halted after govt freezes bank accounts

  

Amnesty International says work in India halted after govt freezes bank accounts

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Tuesday said that its work in India has been halted after the government froze several of the organisation’s bank accounts.

“The complete freezing of Amnesty International India’s bank accounts by the Government of India which it came to know on 10 September 2020, brings all the work being done by the organization to a grinding halt," the organisation said in a statement on its website.

Amnesty further claimed that it has been compelled to let go of staff in India and pause all ongoing campaign and research work.

“For a movement that has done nothing but raise its voices against injustice, this latest attack is akin to freezing dissent," said Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India.

The statement also claimed that Amnesty India stands in full compliance with all applicable Indian and international laws.

Its offices in Bengaluru were raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November last year in connection with accusations that the non-profit had received foreign funds in violation of the law.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) too had carried out investigations into charges that the rights group had attempted to bypass the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by floating a commercial entity, Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd.

Amnesty International says it is halting work in India due to a “continuing crackdown” and “harassment” by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The human rights watchdog said the bank account of its India branch has been frozen by the right-wing government, forcing it to lay off staff and stop campaign and research work in the South Asian nation.

It also accused the government of running an “incessant witch hunt” campaign against human rights organisations over “unfounded and motivated” allegations.

The group said it has been facing a crackdown over the past two years over allegations of financial wrongdoing that it said were baseless. Its bank accounts were frozen on September 10, the group said.

“The continuing crackdown on Amnesty International India over the last two years and the complete freezing of bank accounts is not accidental,” said Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Amnesty International India, in a statement on Tuesday.

Amnesty said the federal financial crimes investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate, had targeted it.