America
US seeks clarification over action against Ford Foundation, Greenpeace
Washington, April 25
Expressing concern over
Indian action against the Ford Foundation and Greenpeace India, the US
is seeking a clarification from New Delhi for limiting "a necessary and
critical debate within Indian society."
"We are aware that the
Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the registration of Greenpeace India
and has placed the Ford Foundation on a prior permission watch list,"
State Department spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters Friday in
response to a question.
"We remain concerned about the
difficulties caused to civil society organizations by the manner in
which the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act has been applied," she
said
"We are concerned that this recent ruling limits a necessary
and critical debate within Indian society, and we are seeking a
clarification on this issue with the appropriate Indian authorities,"
Harf said.
The Indian home ministry had Thursday placed the Ford
Foundation, one of the most powerful international funding
organisations, on a watch list in "national interest and security" of
the country.
Earlier, on April 9 the government announced it has
"temporarily" suspended the registration of Greenpeace India under the
foreign contributions law for "under-reporting" such funding and
conducting transaction of such funds without informing the authorities
as required by the law.