Centre’s crackdown hits Greenpeace

Centre’s crackdown hits Greenpeace

News

Environmental group Greenpeace has been forced to shut two of its regional offices in India due to a block on its bank account after accusations of illegal donations.

Important Facts

The Issue:

1. Greenpeace has been barred from receiving foreign donations since 2015 as part of a nationwide crackdown on charities.
2. The Indian government has cancelled the registrations of nearly 15,000 non-governmental groups under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
3. Critics argue that the government has been using the foreign funding law as a tool to silence non-profit groups which have raised concerns about the social costs of India’s rapid economic development.

About Greenpeace

1. Greenpeace is a global environmental group, a non-profit NGO with a presence in 55 countries
2. Greenpeace India has been critical of government policies over their environmental impact, including coal mining and nuclear power. It has also campaigned over worsening air pollution across the India.