Agencies Used To Target Critics, Comments Against the CBI Raid At Activist Harsh Mander's Premises
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor today took to social media to express his solidarity with the retired IAS officer, Director of the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Equity Studies, Harsh Mander. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had yesterday carried out a raid at the activist’s office and residence after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last month recommended a CBI investigation into the foreign funding of his organisation, the Aman Biradari, a non-government organisation.
Following the raid, the CBI registered a case against the activist for foreign funding violation. Shashi Tharoor in his post on X (formerly Twitter) wrote about the activist’s life committed to the marginalised, noting that he was familiar with him since the age of 16. “One of the purest souls I have ever come across — a man of unimpeachable integrity, sincere intention and boundless compassion. His mind and heart extend themselves to humanity’s unfortunates, the dispossessed and marginalised,” the Congress MP wrote. He further criticised the government for harassing Mr Harsh and said that he stands with the activist.
I have known @harsh_mander since we met as freshers at St Stephen’s at the age of 16. He was & remains one of the purest souls I have ever come across — a man of unimpeachable integrity, sincere intention and boundless compassion. His mind and heart extend themselves to… https://t.co/Y7LkiGp7Fh
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 3, 2024
Harsh Mander is a rights activist, mainly working for the right to food, the right to information and the right to Adivasis. He has also been a critic of the government and has written many books including Massacre and the Modi Years in Gujarat and Partitions of the Heart: Unmaking the Idea of India.
However, with the CBI’s raid at both his house and office premises, it has yesterday (Friday) registered an FIR alleging the violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act at his NGO. It was following a complaint from the Home Ministry that the agency began an enquiry into the Centre for Equity Studies, Aman Biradari Trust, Oxfam India and Action Aid Association over alleged FCRA violations.
“It has been alleged that the NGO had transferred Rs. 32.71 lakh other than salary/wages/remuneration, from its FCRA account into the account of individual(s) during 2020-21 in violation of the provisions of FCRA, 2010. It has also been alleged that the NGO had also diverted funds worth Rs 10 lakh from its FCRA account through the firm(s) in violation of the provisions of FCRA, 2010,” the CBI spokesperson said.
Many activists and academicians have come out against the alleged persecution of the government critics. Advocate Prashanth Bhushan took to his social media platform, expressing support for Harsh Mander and said that he has been one of the most gentle, humane and generous activists who has worked tirelessly for the weak and poor. “He is being targeted only because he has been critical of this govt. All agencies are being blatantly used to target critics,” the lawyer further noted.
CBI is raiding Harsh Mander’s house and office. He has been one of the most gentle, humane & generous activists who has worked tirelessly for the weak & poor.
He is being targeted only because he has been critical of this govt. All agencies are being blatantly used to target…— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) February 2, 2024
