Gujarat govt seeks MHA action against Teesta for 'misuse of foreign funds'

The Gujarat government has approached ministry of home affairs (MHA) seeking action against human rights activist Teesta Setalvad on the ground of “misuse of foreign funds” her NGOs Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) received from foreign donors, including leading donor agency Ford Foundation.

The Gujarat government has approached ministry of home affairs (MHA) seeking action against human rights activist Teesta Setalvad on the ground of “misuse of foreign funds” her NGOs Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) received from foreign donors, including leading donor agency Ford Foundation.

“We have got documents to show that the funds were misused so we want action against them,” junior home minister of Gujarat, Rajni Patel, said.

“Our probe into use of funds received by two trusts of Setalvad has revealed that the funds raised for welfare of the 2002 riots victims have been misused,” a government official said, adding, “The MHA is the competent authority to launch probe and take action under the Foreign Contribution regulation Act.”

Setalvad, who played a vital role for justice to the victims of the 2002 riots, has been on the radar of the Gujarat government, which filed a case against her for raising the money for riots victims and not spending on them.

The case is related to a museum her NGO had planned to build in memory of those killed at Gulbarg society during the riots. However, after raising the money from the donors, the government petition stated, the NGO abandoned the plan to build the memorial.