FCRA License Cancellations Harm the Poor and Vulnerable
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on July 10 revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the parent entity of the non-profit Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA), a group known for its rigorous analysis of financial institutions’ impacts on development, human rights and the environment. The cancellation was ostensibly due to improper financial filings from 2018 and 2019, but Joe Athialy, CFA’s Executive Director, suspects the timing and rationale are politically motivated, aimed at stifling criticism of government policies.
CBI Raid on Activist Harsh Mander Viewed as ‘Witch Hunt’
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on the premises of Harsh Mander, a human rights activist and former Indian Administrative Service officer, and the Centre for Equity Studies (CES), an organisation he is associated with, on Feb. 2. This action has led to criticism, with many viewing it as a politically motivated attempt to silence one of the government’s most articulate critics.
India’s Civil Society Under Pressure
Two scholars from Germany’s Heidelberg University say their study has found that civil society organisations in India, particularly those championing the rights of minorities, Dalits and Adivasis, are facing intensified state scrutiny and regulatory constraints, a situation resulting in a marked narrowing of the civic space within the country.
When Laws Become Swords
As citizens, we want to believe in the sanctity of our laws. They are meant to serve and protect us. But what happens when the very structure that upholds justice becomes an instrument for silencing voices?