A report submitted to Prime Minister accused foreign-funded NGOs to "negatively impacting economic development and stir up protests." "Intelligence Bureau and government have more serious issues to cope with," a Jesuit expert in sociology said to AsiaNews, "as supporting the poor and the marginalized, who benefit from the works of the NGOs."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Greenpeace India and NGOs in the country are "a threat to national economic security, with a negative impact on economic development", an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report said yesterday. Dated June 3^rd, the 21 page document has been submitted to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The IB's report picks on foreign-funded NGOs, with allegations of "stir up protests against nuclear and coal plants".

The environmental group replied immediately. "We have a legitimate right to express our views in what is after all the world's largest democracy," the organization noted in an official statement. "We believe that this report is designed to muzzle and silence civil society who raise their voices against injustices to people and the environment by asking uncomfortable questions about the current model of growth."

The IB's report criticize Greenpeace and NGO's supported demonstrations against nuclear and coal plants. The environmental group support renewable energy and is against destroying India's forests to access the coal underneath.

AsiaNews spoke to Jesuit fr. Prakash Louis sj (see the photo), Director of Indian Social Institute (Bangalore). "There are many more serious issues that the IB should have been concerned about", he said, "especially the safety and security of the citizens of this country."

Fr Louis, former Director at Patna Jesuit Educational Organisation, was also Director of Jesuit Refugee Service South Asia and worked in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan: "In the same manner the present government should have invested its time and resources in seeing, observing and understanding the fundamental issues that affect the citizens of the country. Moreover, it should have tried to respond to the needs of the most marginalized and vulnerable."

Fr. Louis is the author of the book "Rights of the Minorities in India". Talking about the new government, he explains to AsiaNews: "The citizens of this country believed to the Bharatiya Janata Party's promises made during the election campaign. I mean controlling the spiraling price rise, open up avenues for labour for the rural masses, check the violence done to women, concentrate on quality education for those who are deprive of this, revamp agriculture, ensure the rights and dignity of the Dalits, Tribals, minorities, women and children, address the aspirations of the youth who wanted change in governance. Though some priorities have been spelt out, nothing much in terms of hopeful signs has been made."

In the light of this, the IB's report "sets suspicion in the minds of the people, instead of more positive and development oriented programs", fr. Louis added. "If this line of action is pursued it would lead to clamping on the liberty of the citizens for free expression and free movements and right to form and be associated with organizations. Thus both fundamental and constitutional rights would be violated. Further, the poor and the marginalized who benefit from the works of the NGOs would be deprived of that support." (NC)

 

 

 

 

• INDIA
• economy
• religious
• freedom
• ngo
• greenpeace
• intelligence
• bureau