Anti-BJP NGOs get notices from Govt

On September 24, BJP spokesman M Venkiah Naidu and general secretary Narendra Modi alleged that foreign funds were being used to run the advertisement campaign with the specific aim of defeating the BJP 8212; a charge which the NGOs deny vociferously.

The advertisement which apparently got the BJP8217;s goat was the one which talked about the party8217;s lack of respect for women. This particular advertisement wassupported by 13 women8217;s organisations including Kali for Women, Shakti Shalini, Manushi and Ankur from Delhi, and Women8217;s Centre and Akshara from Mumbai and Asmita from Hyderabad.

Most of these and a few more like the Voluntary Action Network India VANI, Indian Social Institute and Centre for Women8217;s Development 8212; which were not even signatories to the advertisement 8212; were issued show-cause notices as to why action should not be taken against them under the Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act FCRA.

According to an official in the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA, the NGOs had violated their Charter as they are not political organisations and can, therefore, only be involved in activities which further social, educational, cultural and economic causes. They get foreign funds which can only be used for these activities and not political causes, the MHA official said. Section 51 of the FCRA prohibits organisations to use these funds for political purposes without the MHA8217;s permission. 8220;These are theBJP8217;s tactics of browbeating the organisations which have dared to question it. We were speaking through the advertisements. Our issues were based on the statements made by the BJP leaders themselves. Instead of answering them one-by-one, they deliberately raised this issue of foreign funding and resorted to harassment and browbeating,8221; said Teesta Setalvad, editor of Communalism Combat when contacted in Mumbai.

She said that only Indian funds have been used to run the campaign. None of the other NGOs which had supported the women8217;s advertisement had paid anything. 8220;All the expenses were borne by Communalism Combat using Indian funds which came from diverse political parties, individuals and even senior corporate executives,8221; Setelvad said.

Urvashi Butalia of Kali for Women, which was a signatory to the ad and received the show-cause notice, said that the fact they had supported the ad did not amount to a political activity. Sati, dowry, wife-beating and other crimes against women which were raised inthe ad were all social issues 8212; issues for which they have been raising their voice all along. An office bearer of another NGO, requesting anonymity, alleged that organisations like the RSS and the VHP indulging in direct political activity and were alive on foreign funding. 8220;These are the organisations which need to be checked,8221; she said. The notices were also perceived as a general crackdown on NGOs by the government. 8220;Probably that is why other organisations which were not signatories to the ad were also included. The government is trying to give it a broad-based semblance,8221; she added. However, VANI which received the notice, though not a signatory, had issued a statement condemning the BJP8217;s allegation made at September 24 press briefing.