Income Tax exemption of activist Harsh Mander’s NGO cancelled
New Delhi: The Income Tax Department has cancelled the registration of the Aman Biradari NGO, founded by human rights activist Harsh Mander, under s. 12A of the Income Tax Act. This revocation means the organisation will no longer be exempt from paying income tax, Mander told Scroll on Wednesday.
Mander stated that the tax authorities had first issued a notice regarding the cancellation three months ago, to which the NGO responded about one-and-a-half months back. However, he added that the department’s order did not address any of the points raised by the organisation to explain its stance.
The department cited two primary reasons for the cancellation. First, it alleged that Aman Biradari failed to provide the permanent account numbers (PAN) of certain individuals who donated to its crowdfunding drive during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Mander, the funds collected through the drive were used to provide food for underprivileged people during the pandemic. He claimed that the NGO was not legally required to provide PAN details at that time.
The second reason cited was that creating communication material on interfaith harmony was not among the stated objectives of the NGO when seeking exemption under s. 12A. Mander, however, stated that interfaith harmony was clearly listed as one of the objectives of Aman Biradari.
Despite the order, Mander affirmed that the organisation would continue its activities. “We have worked with many violence-affected individuals, including survivors of the 2020 Delhi violence and the ethnic conflict in Manipur. We will not let this hinder our work,” he said.
Aman Biradari is described as a campaign for a secular, peaceful, just, and humane society. In March, the Union Home Ministry recommended a CBI investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the NGO. Earlier in February, the CBI filed an FIR against Mander and the Centre for Equity Studies, another trust linked to him, for alleged violations of FCRA norms.
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Pulitzer winner Jhumpa Lahiri declines NYC museum award in protest against Keffiyeh ban
Keffiyehs, scarf symbolizing Palestinian solidarity was recently banned by museum
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has garnered widespread praise on social media for her decision to decline an award from a New York City museum that recently dismissed employees for wearing keffiyehs, a scarf symbolizing Palestinian solidarity.
Lahiri was set to receive the prestigious 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum, an honor that recognizes individuals who embody the innovative spirit and creative commitment of Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The award is highly regarded in the arts community and celebrates those who have made significant contributions to culture and creativity.
However, on Wednesday, the museum issued a statement confirming that Lahiri had chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the award. "Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy," the statement read. "We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone's views."
The controversy surrounding the Noguchi Museum began in August when the institution, located in the borough of Queens and founded nearly 40 years ago by Isamu Noguchi, terminated three employees. The museum also introduced a new dress code policy prohibiting staff from wearing clothing or symbols that convey overt political messages, slogans, or symbols during work hours. The decision to fire employees for wearing keffiyehs, which are widely recognized as symbols of Palestinian solidarity, sparked backlash and criticism from various quarters.
