Author: Pioneer News Service
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: April 22, 2007
For the first time, the Centre has admitted
it is looking into allegations of foreign funding by support groups of the
Medha Patkar-led Narmada Bachao Andolan. The admission is part of an affidavit
filed by the Centre on a PIL seeking a CBI probe into activities of the NBA
for sabotaging the construction of Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) in Gujarat
and Madhya Pradesh through violent means.
The Centre has "emphatically denied"
the allegation by the anti-dam groups that there has been violation of human
rights in the course of construction of major irrigation projects in MP and
Gujarat.
In its 12-page affidavit filed before the
Supreme Court, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said action would be initiated
after the outcome of an on-going probe.
An Ahmedabad-based NGO, National Council for
Civil Liberties (NCCL), through its secretary VK Saxena, had filed a PIL seeking
a probe into the activities of the NBA, alleging that the outfit was acting
at the behest of foreign powers and creating political instability in India
on the strength of funds received by its support groups in violation of the
Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
The reports filed by the MP Vigilance Department
and State police corroborated the allegation of foreign funding of the anti-dam
movement spearheaded by the NBA. These reports also confirmed that some of
the support groups of the NBA did receive foreign funding to run the movement.
With the Centre disclosing it had not given any permission to these to groups
to receive foreign funds, action against them looks inevitable. This could
come as a major source of embarrassment to Medha Patkar and NBA.
In the affidavit, the Centre said that the
MHA had not accorded permissions to Arohi Niyas and Sarvodaya Sikshan Samiti
Malcha (both in Madhya Pradesh) to receive foreign funds. In the absence of
the complete address of the NGOs, the concerned Government designated agencies
have been requested to confirm the facts about the receipt of foreign contributions
so that appropriate action may be initiated, if violation is confirmed against
the concerned individuals and associations, for failure to comply with provisions
of FCRA." The provisions in FCRA requires that an association can receive
foreign contribution only after obtaining the prior permission of the Centre.
Further, the affidavit said NBA, Delhi Forum
and Maharashtra-based Lok Samiti, had not been granted permission to receive
foreign funds. The NBA has refuted the allegations of NCCL and has questioned
the maintainability of the PIL, contending that it was filed by suppressing
some crucial facts and a personal battle was being fought by "misusing
the judiciary". The court had on July 7 last year issued notices to the
Centre, the NBA and one of its activists Rahul Banerjee on the NCCL's plea
for a CBI probe into the alleged illegal activities of the NBA.
It has not yet issued notices to Patkar and
the CBI. The NCCL has contended that Banerjee was handling the affairs of
the MP-based NGOs supporting the NBA in its activities and criminal cases,
including a charge of sedition has been registered against him. The Centre's
affidavit also mentioned about a complaint received in 2002 by the then Minister
looking after the Narmada project in Gujarat, alleging receipt of funds by
NBA, which on inspection of books of accounts did not reveal any instance
of violation of FCRA.
In response to the allegation that activists
of the NBA were resorting to violence and unlawful means in their protest,
the MHA maintained that "in case NBA, Patkar and Banerjee are engaging
in such actions, undoubtedly action in accordance with law ought to be taken
by concerned agencies".
