'No private citizen can be prevented from holding or propagating in India or abroad, a view contrary to that of the government of the day. The government, it seems is misreading the mandate in the Lok Sabha as being a mandate to crush dissent. In times when ruling parties have brute majorities in Parliament, the true test of safeguarding democracy is its ability to allow dissenting voices to be heard,' says Indira Jaising, the former additional solicitor general.
'These new laws give complete (impunity) to the police.' 'Whatever little accountability the police had, all that is gone now.' 'There is no accountability mechanism against the police for abusing or misusing in the new laws.'
'All we are asking is that the Forest Rights Act be fully implemented. It is there in the Constitution of India. For this we have been regularly called anti-national,' says Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai, who was debarred from flying overseas on Sunday.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response of the Centre on the plea of Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai against her "offloading" from a flight to London at the Delhi airport.
Months after one of its campaigners was "offloaded" from a flight, Greenpeace India on Monday claimed that a member of its international staff was denied entry into India despite having valid documents.
'Possibly, our campaigns have made the right impact and raised the right questions, which is making several stakeholders uncomfortable,' Samit Aich, Greenpeace India's executive director, tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com
A Greenpeace India member was barred from boarding a flight to London on Sunday.
Tax exemption for donations to Greenpeace may be withdrawn.
Almost every home in this area has a slogan 'Jal, Jangal, Jameen' painted outside. Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com on the four-year battle to save the Mahan forest in Madhya Pradesh.
Tribal rights activist Gladson Dungdung was offloaded from a London-bound Air India flight in New Delhi on Monday
Govt will continue to oppose Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai's 'badmouthing' India.
The Delhi high court on Thursday set aside the look out circular issued against Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai, who was offloaded from a flight to London two months back, saying her fundamental right to travel cannot be curtailed.
The fresh round of cancellation process of the 4,470 NGOs started on May 6.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said his ministry has 'nothing to do' with the denial of entry to a Greenpeace activist.
'We are facing a crackdown for more than a year. Our permission to collect funds was cancelled. Our bank accounts were frozen.' 'We believe that our work in India is very important. We want to be the environment watchdog. We do not want to waste time fighting legal battles.'
Delhi HC said, with reference to the Greenpeace activist, that difference of opinion does not mean being anti-national.
Three days after she was stopped from boarding a flight to London by immigration officials, Greenpeace India activist Priya Pillai on Wednesday addressed British MPs through video conferencing and talked about the "struggle" of people of Mahan area in Madhya Pradesh.
Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai was offloaded from her flight to London as her proposed "testimony" before a British parliamentary committee would have been "prejudicial" to India's interests, the Centre has told Delhi High Court.
Hitting back, Greenpeace India on Thursday said it will move court against Tamil Nadu government's notice threatening cancellation of its registration and alleged that the "perversely framed and maliciously designed" charges were levelled at the behest of Union home ministry.
Greenpeace India on Tuesday said it was staring at an "imminent" shutdown within a month in the absence of funds.
According to the govt, Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai cannot be allowed to travel to London as she would indulge in anti-national activities.
'There is perhaps a need to pay heed to L K Advani's belief about an Emergency re-run,' says Amulya Ganguli.
Licence of NGO run by Indira Jaising--'Lawyers' Collective'--was suspended by the government for 6 months.
'Although strong arm tactics do cause inconvenience, they have not been able to stop us from carrying out our campaigns.' 'Allegations about being 'anti-development' mean very little when people in the country are still going hungry.' Greenpeace India chief Ravi Chellam on the challenges ahead.
In a tough action, the Government on Thursday barred Greenpeace India from receiving foreign funds with immediate effect by suspending its licence for six months and froze all its accounts, alleging it has "prejudicially" affected the country's public and economic interests.
'There is nothing traitorous about highlighting the poor record of your own government. If the Indian government does something wrong, we all have the right to point this out at any forum, international or national.'
'The government is using the Intelligence Bureau to go after NGOs.' 'It is not only the NDA, the UPA also didn't like NGOs.' 'NGOs predominantly work with the poor. So, when you cancel an NGO, the affected are the poor, the Dalits, the tribals, the street children and the marginalised.'
'Today, environment has become an issue of political debate. It has become a media issue. I think that is a good development.'
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