New Delhi: The Union home ministry today put the Ford Foundation of the US on the watch list on grounds of “national interest and security”, ordering that any funds from the foundation to any NGO or agency must first receive its clearance.
Recently, the Gujarat government had complained to the home ministry that the Ford Foundation, among the top international funding organisations, was interfering in India’s internal affairs and “abetting communal disharmony”.
It also accused the foundation of encouraging the Sabrang Trust and the Citizens for Justice and Peace, run by social activist Teesta Setalvad, to engage in acts prejudicial to communal disharmony.
Setalvad, who has for years fought for the 2002 Gujarat riot victims, has been at loggerheads with the Gujarat government. In January, Gujarat police registered a case against her and husband Javed Anand alleging they had embezzled crores collected on the pretext of building a memorial to the riot victims.
Sources said the home ministry issued its order today following reports from the Intelligence Bureau and other security agencies that questioned the nature and use of the funding by Ford Foundation.
“In this context, it has been decided to keep watch on all the activities funded by Ford Foundation which contributes to NGOs/associations in India,” the order, signed by undersecretary Anand Joshi, said.
The home ministry has asked the Reserve Bank to instruct all the banks and their branches to ensure that any fund flow from Ford Foundation is first cleared by the ministry.
It has added that government organisations can accept foreign funding only with the clearance of the finance ministry’s department of economic affairs.
“Any instance of a government organisation receiving funds directly from this agency (Ford Foundation) may be withheld and brought to the notice of this ministry,” the order said.
Sources said the home ministry’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act division was working in tandem with security agencies to keep an eye on the activities and funding of NGOs.
Earlier this month, the ministry had barred Greenpeace India from receiving foreign funds for six months and frozen its bank accounts alleging it had hurt India’s public and economic interests in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
The environment group has been campaigning for clean air, energy and water and on food issues.
Activists have accused the ministry of a smear campaign and the Narendra Modi government of trying to “crush voices of dissent”.
In January, Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai was offloaded from a flight to London where she was to speak against coal mining in Singrauli.
Delhi High Court had termed the government move “illegal” and said the government could not “muzzle” the right to criticise.
The home ministry had argued that according to intelligence reports, Pillai planned to testify before the British Parliament on tribals’ condition in India.
