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Ford Foundation: US seeks clarification from India

by IBNS 25 Apr 2015, 09:45 am

Washington, Apr 25 (IBNS) The US on Friday said it has sought 'clarification' from the Indian authorities over the crackdown on Ford Foundation and Greenpeace.

"Well, we are aware that the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the registration of Green Peace India and has placed the Ford Foundation on a prior permission watch list. We remain concerned about the difficulties caused to civil society organizations by the manner in which the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act has been applied," US State Department Deputy Acting Spokesperson Marie Harf said while speaking during her daily press briefing.

"We are concerned that this recent ruling limits a necessary and critical debate within Indian society, and we are seeking a clarification on this issue with the appropriate Indian authorities," she said.

After Greenpeace India, the Home Ministry this week ordered that Ford Foundation be put under a watch list, reports said.

The Ministry decided to keep a watch on all activities funded by Ford Foundation and by exercising the powers conferred under Section 46 of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 2010, it directed Reserve Bank of India to ensure that funds coming from it be brought to the notice of the Home Ministry.