Home Ministry denies permission to Amnesty to receive foreign funds on four occasions

New Delhi August 19The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had on four occasions denied permission to Amnesty International India to receive foreign funds through the “prior-permission” category.The human rights organisation, which is at present facing sedition charges, is not registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

A senior Home Ministry official said that Amnesty International India had registered itself as non-profit organisation in the name of Amnesty International South Asia Foundation on May 8, 2015, and had sought permission to open a regional headquarters in Delhi.

The Hindu had reported that the Home Ministry was unlikely to give them the go-ahead for the regional headquarters.

On December 19, 2000, Amnesty India was granted permission for the first time to bring £1,30,629 and again on November 14, 2003, £2,21,428 under prior permission category.

The Ministry again granted permission to the human rights organisation to receive Rs. 54,40,000 on July 14, 2009, and it received foreign funds of Rs. 1,69,59,226 on March 28, 2012.

However, Amnesty India’s applications on March 29, 2010 to allow it to receive Rs. 32,72,000 and on November 2, 2012, for Rs. 1,69,59,226 was rejected by the Ministry.

Two other such applications for receiving of Rs. 2,65,76,204 and Rs. 80,00,000 were also rejected on November 9, 2012, and March 19, 2013 respectively.