The ministry of home affairs (MHA) informed Parliament on Wednesday that it has received some complaints related to the violation of foreign funding laws by ‘The Other Media’, a non-government organisation (NGO) which organised protests and demonstrations that led to the closure of the Vedanta-owned Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi in 2018.
The ministry said it sought clarifications from the NGO and if any violations were found, the organisation could lose its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence.
Responding to a question by Congress MP Naranbhai J Rathwa, Union minister of state (MoS) for home affairs Nityanand Rai said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, “Some representations/complaints alleging violation of the provision(s) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA, 2010) by the association ‘The Other Media, New Delhi’ have been received in this Ministry. Inputs of field agency have also been received.”
Vedanta’s Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi was shut in May 2018 following public protests after 13 people were killed in police firing on the 100th day of the demonstration demanding permanent closure of the plant, alleging that it caused severe pollution.
Rathwa had asked if the ministry had received complaints against ‘The Other Media’ for misuse of funds for organising protests and demonstrations around Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothikudi in Tamil Nadu, the details of funds received by it and whether any action would be taken against the organisation.
{{/usCountry}}Rathwa had asked if the ministry had received complaints against ‘The Other Media’ for misuse of funds for organising protests and demonstrations around Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothikudi in Tamil Nadu, the details of funds received by it and whether any action would be taken against the organisation.
{{/usCountry}}The MoS said in his reply that in the cases where complaints of FCRA violations are received, “a standard questionnaire is issued to the association seeking detailed information and the same is examined in terms of provisions of the FCRA, 2010 and rules made thereunder.”
Accordingly, he said “standard questionnaire was issued to the association and reply has been received”.
“In case violations of provisions of the FCRA, 2010 are found, the certificate of FCRA registration of the association may be cancelled under section 14 of the Act,” he added.
The minister said from 2019-20 to 2021-22, the organisation received foreign contribution of ₹3.54 crore, of which ₹2.79 crore was utilised by it.
Representatives of ‘The Other Media’ did not respond to HT’s request for comment.