Greenpeace India calls ED raids as an attempt to muzzle democratic dissent

Amid reports of the Enforcement Directorate freezing the bank accounts of Greenpeace India, the NGO has termed the raids as an attempt to ‘muzzle the democratic dissent in the country’.

The Enforcement Directorate officials had conducted raids on the premises of the Greenpeace offices in Bengaluru. The ED is probing the alleged foreign funds violation by the Greenpeace India.

While refuting all the allegations, Greenpeace India said that, ‘every rupee that goes into Greenpeace India’s environmental work is a donation made by ecologically conscious people in the country. Greenpeace India’s work for clean air, promotion of renewable energy, safe food for all and climate change mitigation is carried out with a unique combination of passion and professionalism.’

Strongly rejecting the charges of funds violation, Greenpeace India said that it was an attempt to defame the organization. It also added that, ‘we do not have anything to hide and are ready to provide the government authorities with financial details as required.’

However, Greenpeace India further said that, ‘we will reserve the right to constitutionally challenge attempts to malign our very existence as an independent environmental organisation.’

Meanwhile, in unrelated development, Greenpeace India alleged the Centre has failed miserably in staying true to its commitment of notifying a programme which proposes multiple strategies to combat air pollution.

Noting that the National Green Tribunal had on October 8 asked the Centre and states to act together to reduce pollution in a time-bound manner, the green body hoped that "this rap" from the NGT would lead to the government notifying the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) soon.

"A new trend seems to be emerging. Now, courts have to intervene at every step to ensure a policy is implemented to protect the interests of the citizens of India. Isn't it the government's mandate to implement policies without the intervention from the courts? "Another trend we are witnessing is that the government is actively diluting environmental laws and arguing on behalf of polluting companies to enable them to continue to pollute," alleged Sunil Dahiya, senior air pollution campaigner, Greenpeace India.

(with PTI inputs)

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