Civil Society the new frontier of War A Critical Analysis of NSA Ajit Dovals observation Part 3 – The Times of India Blog

Since 2014, when he assumed the charge of Prime Ministership, Narendra Modi has faced international pressures to address Indias human rights concerns and has been accused of involvement in war crimes and human rights violations. In 2014, a lawsuit was filed against him by the American Justice Center, which accused him of inaction in stopping the religious riots in Gujarat in 2002. At the time of the communal violence, Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat.

Other NGOs that are focused on human rights across the nation have condemned the actions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Huffington Post India reported that an Indian spokeswoman for Greenpeace alleges the raids to be part of a larger design to muzzle democratic dissent in the country, that began in 2014. She claims, although India is now a major growing economy, Indias citizenry remains highly dependent on foreign aid.

The most recent attack on civil society groups is said to have greatly affected those dependent upon foreign funding. The Guardian reported that between 2014 and 2017, the Indian government has reduced foreign funding received by civil society, from US$2.05 billion to US$884.50 million.

It is said, by blocking foreign funding, and targeting civil society groups, the Indian government is denying its citizenry the funding it desperately relies upon for everyday life. The critics opine India must recognize the harmful effect of its actions, and work alongside civil society NGOs, to offer its citizenry the best care and provision of human rights possible,

Why are the Civil Society Groups & others upset?

To have some idea about why the Civil Society Groups, as also, the International Organizations are upset, following the amendment of the FCRA Act, 2010, one needs to have a look at the following:

NGOs are actually, meant to be agents of change, who purportedly serve the marginalised sections of society. They are said to perform duties, which the government agencies fail to provide.

However, a look at the activities of two of the frontline International NGOs, Amnesty International & Ford Foundation presents a case in point to the contrary & throws ample light on the disturbing activities of these & similar other outfits in India.

Amnesty International

The world of NGOs is alleged to be a shady mix of exploitation and corruption, disguising itself underneath a pious garb of human rights and humanitarian concerns. Apart from serving as extended arms of the western powers, in their bid to undermine the sovereignty of other countries, NGOs are known to be riddled with numerous vices of their own.

Amnesty International is said to be one of those NGOs, that have a shadowy past and have been trying desperately to meddle with the internal affairs of India. In 2019, it had reportedly decided to start a global campaign in defence of Jihad in Kashmir.

In a video featuring the actor, Naseeruddin Shah, the NGO had claimed that the Constitution was under threat, and dissent is being suppressed in the country. It painted a grim picture of the country, as opposed to the real picture.

On another occasion, Amnesty had claimed that India is becoming a dangerous place for human rights defenders, based on the statement made by arrested Urban Naxal Arun Ferreira. The NGO conveniently ignored the fact that Ferreira was arrested in connection with the violence at Koregaon Bhima, and an alleged assassination plot to murder Prime Minister Modi. It is opined, such inconvenient facts do not matter to Amnesty.

Amnesty International was also accused of having links with the Taliban. Gita Sahgal, the then head of the gender unit at Amnestys international secretariat, going public in 2010, had reportedly condemned the Organization for collaborating with Moazzam Begg, a former British inmate at Guantanamo Bay, a US detention camp for terrorists, that has been the subject of great controversy, and his organization, Cage Prisoners.

It is therefore opined, given the history of Amnesty International allying with radical Islamic fundamentalists, it is not surprising that Amnesty had decided to side with the Jihadists on the Kashmir issue.

In recent times, it appears to be overeager to undermine Indias sovereignty, while violating Indias laws. Amnesty International India, on Monday, 5th of August, 2019, had issued a statement, against the Centres decision to revoke the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it could stoke ongoing tension in the state, and end up alienating the locals. It also cautioned the government that the developments could increase the risk of further human rights violations. This obviously was an unwanted unnecessary interference in the working of a sovereign state like India.

Ford Foundation

In 2018, US-based Ford Foundation had reportedly funded a political party and profit-making organisations illegally. For this, Ford Foundation came under the Home Ministrys scanner and was put on the watch list. An investigation had reportedly found that funds sanctioned by the Ford Foundation to an NGO, had reached a political party, automatically making the donor, liable to face action. The probe reportedly had also found that Ford Foundation had funded several organisations, which do not fall into the category of NGOs, eligible for receiving foreign funds, as they make profits.

The Home Ministry had also reportedly found that Ford Foundation had given funds to at least six NGOs, which were not registered under the FCRA, making the payment illegal.

It is worth noting that, under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, no donor can fund political parties or any organisation which makes profits.

Following the investigation, the Home Ministry had put the Ford Foundation on its watch list, and ordered that all funds coming from the US-based donor, be routed through it, in view of the national security concerns.

The Reserve Bank of India accordingly was requested to instruct all the banks and their branches to ensure that, any fund flow from the Ford Foundation to any person, NGO or organisation in India, should be brought to the notice of the Home Ministry, so that, funds are allowed to be credited into the accounts of the recipient, only after clearance of the Ministry.

Gujarat government had also asked the Home Ministry to take action against Ford Foundation, alleging that the US-based organisation was interfering in internal affairs of the country, and also abetting communal disharmony, through an NGO run by Social Activist Teesta Setalvad.

The action against Ford Foundation came weeks after the Home Ministry froze seven bank accounts of Greenpeace India, and barred it from receiving foreign funds, for allegedly violating FCRA, and prejudicially affecting the countrys public and economic interests.

One should not be under the impression that the Modi Government, which is being targeted by all, including by the Indian National Congress, was the one, which started this trend. We have already seen that the Congress Government under the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi, was instrumental in bringing in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act in 1976 during the Emergency, which was later amended in 2010 during the Premiership of Dr, Manmohan Singh.

Dr. Manmohan Singh had altered the original FCRA in 2010, by inserting a clause to regulate access to foreign money or hospitality for any activity detrimental to national interest. Under the new provision, any organisation of a political nature was banned from accepting foreign funds.

Modi, it must be understood, has realised the damaging and incendiary voltage of the non-formal sector. During the first term of NDA, the Home Ministry had withdrawn the registration of over 20,000 NGOs. Many more are likely to lose their recognition soon, as they would be unable to comply with the new laws, Prabhu Chawla, the Editorial Director of the New Indian Express had opined in an article in New Indian Express, dated, 27th of September, 2020. NSA, Ajit Dovals reference to the civil society as the new frontiers of war, has to be understood in this context.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Civil Society the new frontier of War A Critical Analysis of NSA Ajit Dovals observation Part 3 - The Times of India Blog