Government treating us like criminal enterprises: Amnesty International on ED raid
New Delhi, Oct 27 (IBNS): After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raid at Amnesty International's Bengaluru office in connection with a foreign exchange contravention case, the human rights organisation has alleged that the government is treating them as criminal enterprises, media reports said.
Amnesty said the government is instilling fear among civil society by conducting such raid.
Amnesty said in a tweet, "ED raid on Amnesty India shows a disturbing pattern of the government silencing organisations that question power. It is clear that the government wants to instill fear among Civil Society Organisations."
ED raid on Amnesty India shows a disturbing pattern of the government silencing organisations that question power. It is clear that the government wants to instill fear among Civil Society Organisations. #CrackdownOnAmnesty
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 25, 2018
It has also said the employees were not even allowed to use mobile phones during the conduction of raid.
Amnesty said: "Over 5 ED officials raided Amnesty’s Bengaluru office. Ordered employees to not leave, shut their laptops and searched their desks. Employees were not allowed to use their phones to call friends and families."
Over 5 ED officials raided Amnesty’s Bengaluru office. Ordered employees to not leave, shut their laptops and searched their desks. Employees were not allowed to use their phones to call friends and families. #CrackdownOnAmnesty
— Amnesty India (@AIIndia) October 25, 2018
The 10-hour long raid was conducted since 2 pm on Thursday.
In a statement, the ED said as it has been quoted by NDTV, "After Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) was denied the permission/registration under FCRA by the MHA (ministry of home affairs) they resorted to bypass the FCRA by floating commercial entity in the name of Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL)."
"This entity has received foreign funds through commercial route to the extent of Rs. 36 crore till date."
Couple of weeks ago, the ED had raided the Bengaluru offices of Greenpeace, another non-profit global Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), and other establishments associated with it.
The investigators suspect Greenpeace is receiving foreign funds, a charge refuted by the environmental organisation.
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