Provisional attachment of bank accounts is politically motivated: PFI
Bengaluru, June 2: Condemning the "provisional attachment" of its bank accounts by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Popular Front on India (PFI) on Thursday claimed that its "uncompromising stand" against the Sangh Parivar's "divisive politics" is the only reason for it becoming the target of the agency's "politically motivated" cases.
The ED has attached at least 33 bank accounts of PFI and a linked organisation called Rehab India Foundation as part of an anti-money laundering investigation against them, officials said on Wednesday.
The accounts hold more than Rs 68 lakh, they had said, adding that 23 accounts of the PFI having Rs 59,12,051 and 10 of Rehab India Foundation having Rs 9,50,030 have been attached.
The organisation termed the action as part of the ongoing "repressive steps" taken against it for the past few years.
It is once again clear that the ED is acting as mere "pawns of the political masters" by going after people's movements, NGOs, human rights organisations, opposition parties, media, and any democratic voices in the country that are critical of the ruling party, it alleged.
Pointing out that the deposits to its accounts as mentioned by the ED for the duration of 13 years are nothing but normal for the functioning of a "nationwide social movement" like it, PFI in a statement said, it is also to be noted that the said amount includes the deposits done during the collection drives for major calamities faced by the country.
"The stated figures by the ED are not at all astonishing and no great investigation is needed by an agency like ED as we have already filed every penny of the collections to the income tax. This proves it is nothing but sensationalising of figures," it said.
The PFI was formed in 2006 in Kerala and is headquartered in Delhi.
The statement has been issued by PFI General Secretary Anis Ahmed, Secretary Mohammed Shakif, and Karnataka Secretary A K Ashraf.
Noting that the PFI will continue with its assertive stand and opposition to the "evil designs" of the RSS, it said, "these actions will not intimidate us and we will explore all legal and democratic options to overcome these hindrances."
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India’s Human Rights accreditation Status under Review by Geneva-based UN body
Geneva: India’s human rights accreditation status is under scrutiny as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) prepares to review the country’s processes this week. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) faces potential downgrading from its current “A status” due to concerns raised in 2023, including the lack of pluralism, the appointment of police officials and ruling party members to the NHRC, and the absence of gender and minority representation.
The decision on India's accreditation status will impact its ability to vote at the UN Human Rights Council and some UNGA bodies. The Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of GANHRI will conduct the review, which occurs every five years for each member of the 114-member alliance. India, which has been accredited since 1999, had its status deferred in 2016 but restored after a year.
The NHRC has defended its composition, stating that the presence of government officials, including the Secretary-General and CEO, enhances its effectiveness. However, criticisms include the involvement of police officers in investigations, lack of gender and minority representation, and political affiliations of some members with the ruling party.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has engaged with countries involved in the review process to present India's case diplomatically. Despite confidence in restoring its A status, the government emphasizes that it does not focus on "external certifications" of India's human rights record.
International civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and CIVICUS, have raised concerns about increasing restrictions on civil society and discrimination against minorities in India. They urge GANHRI-SCA to amend the NHRC's rating to reflect its failure to comply with the Paris Principles and address the deteriorating human rights situation in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs has criticized the U.S. State Department's latest human rights report on India as biased and reflective of a poor understanding of the country. It further stated that it attaches no value to the report and urges others to do the same.
