Civil Society condemns freezing of INSAF bank accounts, to challenge MHA orders
8 May 2013
Civil Society
condemns freezing of INSAF bank accounts, to challenge MHA orders
New Delhi, May 08’ 13: Civil
society groups, concerned individuals, activists and representatives
from peoples’ organizations have fiercely condemned the draconian
act of freezing the bank account of Indian Social Action Forum
(INSAF) and suspension of its FCRA by Ministry of Home Affairs in a
meeting held in INSAF office here on Wednesday presided by the senior
journalist and human rights defender Anand Swaroop Verma.
The meeting deliberated on the grounds
upon which this decision has been imposed by the government. Veteran
educationist Anil Chaudhary raised question on the government’s
action that invites FDI in sectors that displaces people and robs
them of their livelihood on the one hand whereas bans FCRA of those
who fight in support of peoples’ livelihoods and rights.
The meeting attended by eminent human
rights defenders like Bezwada Wilson, Ashok Chowdhary, Kalyani Menon
Sen, P.T. George, Ramesh Dixit, Rajendra Ravi, Afsar Jafri and
representatives of various peoples’ organizations unanimously
decided to fight the government’s decision under the newly formed
banner Janadhikar Sangharsh Samiti. The first meeting against
this backdrop is decided to be held on May 17 in the Constitution
Club Of India, New Delhi.
It is to be noted that
bank accounts of INSAF, a platform of more than 700 civil society and
peoples’ organizations, was frozen by MHA, GOI earlier this month
regarding which the communiqué was sent to its Delhi office on May
4, 2013. Three days after this, INSAF had taken legal recourse and
challenged this undemocratic action of government in the Supreme
Court on May 7.