9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

ENGLISH த ழ் বাংলা മലയാളം िहंदी मराठी

Follow Us:

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Home India Cities Opinion Sports Entertainment Lifestyle Tech Videos Explained Audio
SUBSCRIBE
Epaper Sign in
Home /  India /  'Witch-hunt': Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre

‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty
International halts India
operations, blames Centre
It is unclear what specific violations Amnesty's Indian arm committed, but
the rights group said it is in full compliance of all the laws, and criticised the
government for allegedly portraying its fundraising model as a money
laundering operation.

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: September 29, 2020 11:01:05 am

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 1/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

BIHAR ELECTIONS
Nominations
undecided

Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday raided the headquarters of Amnesty International India in
Bengaluru.

Amnesty International Tuesday halted its India operations and let go of its staff
members, alleging “witch-hunt” by the Centre. In a statement, the human rights
organisation claimed its bank accounts have been completely frozen, bringing its
ongoing work to a grinding halt.

“The continuing crackdown on Amnesty International India over the last two
years and the complete freezing of bank accounts is not accidental. The constant
harassment by government agencies including the Enforcement Directorate is a
result of our unequivocal calls for transparency in the government, more
recently for accountability of the Delhi police and the Government of India
regarding the grave human rights violations in Delhi riots and Jammu &
Kashmir. For a movement that has done nothing but raise its voices against
injustice, this latest attack is akin to freezing dissent,” said Avinash Kumar,
Executive Director of Amnesty International India.

It is unclear what specific violations Amnesty’s Indian arm committed, but the
rights group said it is in full compliance of all the laws, and criticised the
government for allegedly portraying its fundraising model as a money
laundering operation.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 2/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

Recently, several civil society organisations urged President Ram Nath Kovind not
to sign the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 which, they
say, “demonises” NGOs. BIHAR ELECTIONS
Nominations
The Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), an apex body of Indian NGOs, undecided

maintained that the Bill was passed “without proper deliberation and
consultation”, while Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population
Foundation of India (PFI), said it creates a negative perception of the NGO sector,
which fears that once it becomes law, no government, irrespective of party, is
likely to repeal it.

While the Bill “demonises NGOs’’, Muttreja said, “when the Covid-19 pandemic
hit, NGOs were the first port of call for many, including the government”.

The government says the proposed legislation is aimed at transparency, and not
against NGOs.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel
(@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

TAGS: Amnesty International

7 Comment(s) *
* The moderation of comments is automated and not cleared manually by indianexpress.com.

LIVE BLOG

Coronavirus Live Updates: One person is

dying of Covid-19 every 16 seconds
39 mins ago

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 3/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

Telangana, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Coronavirus Live Updates: 2072 new cases, 9
deaths in Telangana; slowdown in AP
43 mins ago
BIHAR ELECTIONS
Nominations
JEE Advanced 2020 Answer Key LIVE Updates: undecided
Here's how to download unof cial answer
key
45 mins ago

DC vs SRH Predicted Playing 11, IPL 2020 Live

Updates: Con dent Delhi Capitals look for
third win
52 mins ago

BEST OF EXPRESS

Hathras gangrape: Dalit

woman succumbs to
injuries in Delhi hospital

Farm laws:
Understanding the
constitutionality,
arguments in favour
and against

From the archives: 10

photos of iconic actor
Zohra Sehgal

Entertainment
I feel privileged: Anjali on
working with Michael
Madsen in Nishabdham

Trending
Two-year-old's 'friend'
who goes everywhere
with him delights
netizens

Trending
Zohra Sehgal: Google
Doodle features Iconic
Indian actress

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 4/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

Sports
Haryana village basks in
Rahul Tewatia's glory:
"Pandavas, Surdas and BIHAR ELECTIONS
now Rahul"
Nominations
undecided
Sports
Super Over settles super
contest after
improbable chase

Opinion
The assault on
Bollywood

Softer, yet more audible:

Why birds sang better in
lockdown

Lifestyle
Woke up looking tired?
Here's how you can
reduce pu ness around
eyes

Technology
5 smartphones best for
video calling under Rs
20,000

MUST READ
Sports
Haryana village basks in
Rahul Tewatia's glory:
"Pandavas, Surdas and
now Rahul"

Sports
Super Over settles super
contest after
improbable chase

Sports
Emotional Roller
Coaster: Finch can't help
but double up in pain;
Highs and a low for
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 5/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

Negi

Technology
5 smartphones best for BIHAR ELECTIONS
video calling under Rs
20,000 Nominations
undecided

Technology
Xiaomi Smarter Living
2021 today: What to
expect?

Technology
Microsoft Teams, O ce
365 back after global
outage

Lifestyle
Woke up looking tired?
Here's how you can
reduce pu ness around
eyes

BUZZING NOW
Trending
Two-year-old's 'friend'
who goes everywhere
with him delights
netizens

Trending
Zohra Sehgal: Google
Doodle features Iconic
Indian actress

Trending
Viral Video: Man gets
kicked in the face, falls
off boat as proposal
goes awry

Trending
Watch: As 10 pm curfew
kicks in, people in
London hold
'impromptu' party at
Oxford Circus

Trending

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 6/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

US judge temporarily
blocks Trump
administration's TikTok
ban. Here is how BIHAR ELECTIONS
netizens reacted
Nominations
undecided
SEP 29: LATEST NEWS

Birbhum: Bangladeshi ‘su

plot to kill TMC leader,
say cops

Woke up looking tired?

Here’s how you can
reduce pu ness around
eyes

Explained: In Enola
Holmes, a glimpse into
the women’s movement
of 19th century England

Karnataka schools likely

to hold classes in shifts
after reopening

Visva-Bharati starts to
fence Poush Mela
ground, protests
anticipated today

Virat Kohli lauds

‘outstanding’ Super
Over from Navdeep
Saini

Timeline: How the global

coronavirus pandemic
unfolded

Under CM Mamata
Banerjee, Bengal has
turned into a police
state: Guv Dhankhar

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 7/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express

Two-year-old’s ‘friend’
who goes everywhere
with him delights BIHAR ELECTIONS
netizens
Nominations
undecided
Hathras gangrape: Dalit woman succumbs to
injuries in Delhi hospital

TRENDING NEWS

Coronavirus India News Covid-19 Vaccine Horoscope Today Coronavirus News

RCB Team 2020 Players CSK Team 2020 Players MI Team 2020 Players List SRH Team 2020 Players
List List List

DC Team 2020 Players List IPL 2020 Schedule KXIP Team 2020 Players KKR Team 2020 Players
List List

IPL 2020 Points Table NEET Result 2020 Karnataka Bandh Tamil Nadu Coronavirus
News

FOLLOW US

DOWNLOAD APPS

EXPRESS GROUP
The Indian Express The Financial Express

Loksatta Jansatta

IE Tamil IE Bangla

IE Malayalam inUth

The ExpressGroup Ramnath Goenka Awards

IE-26/11
QUICK LINKS
T&C Privacy Policy
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 8/9
9/29/2020 ‘Witch-hunt’: Amnesty International halts India operations, blames Centre | India News,The Indian Express
y y

Advertise with Us Contact Us

Subscribe Statutory provisions on reporting (sexual offenses)

BIHAR ELECTIONS
Nominations
Copyright © 2020 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. All Rights Reserved
undecided

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amnesty-international-india-6630818/ 9/9