Shiban Khaibri
Do not trouble the trouble unless the trouble troubles you – is a saying denoting the extent of tolerating a misdemeanor, an act, an over ambitious strategy, if not a mischief, around a person, a society or most importantly a nation but not tolerating beyond a point when it starts troubling or affecting the most. The same is true of some NGOs operating in our country in the guise of protecting environment, ecology, forest wealth and other natural resources or “protecting” tribals, religious minorities, the children, the sufferers of natural calamities and so on. There are certain genuine organizations, undoubtedly doing good job and they get every possible assistance from the government too but there also are the ones, who in the name of activism, indulge in practices which could be prejudicial to the interests of the country. India is the most NGO-ised country in the world and as per a rough estimate, there are nearly 3. 5 million registered NGOs in our country, how many are operating unregistered, ie; not under the Societies’ Registration Act or under some other schemes is unknown. However, according to a sample survey, all of them could not be verified but only one fourth of them traced and other voluntary organizations to the extent of 50% were found not registered at all under any law.
Organizations engaged in socially meaningful work are always welcome and encouraged but the ones which impliedly or explicitly are engaged in anti national activities, the government must be prepared to take on them effectively giving a feeling that no grass is allowed to grow under its feet when it concerns the national interests. Such organizations are funded by international organizations or are just their units operating in the country , acting on their behalf so much that they appear owing allegiance to their foreign mentors even if that could land the country in a sort of disadvantageous position even being subjected to potential sanction regime.
There have been instances where such NGOs have been found involved in organizing resistance movements to various developmental projects direly needed for the country’s economic development. The emotions of the people centering round their loved – rivers, trees, mineral wealth etc are exploited to the hilt with an ulterior aim to ensure interests of countries other than India were protected and benefited. We have still in our minds how peoples’ demonstrations , prolonged sit in protests some even in novel ways, were organized against the nuclear power plant in Kundankulam or even against Delhi – Mumbai industrial corridor. The way these protests have been organized give ample proof of there being a snake in the grass and any justification under the usual alibis, does not hold water. They, in sum and substance, promote and further their foreign agenda, ignoring the interests of the people here. Such moves impede progress on projects which are critical to India’s overall development. The question is whether such organizations enjoying massive foreign funding should be allowed to stand in the way of government’s development agenda and more importantly, should we allow them present our country and its policies in a perverted manner before some foreign developed countries including organizations or institutions belonging to or operating at the behest of these countries? If so far the UPA regimes were looking like a square peg in a round hole in respect of taking suitable action against such organizations which were loyal to their mentors abroad and the present dispensation has shown some grit in the matter, why it should not be appreciated?
In our country, it has become a fashion, a daily cuisine for most of these NGOs to talk about the rights even showing sympathies for outlawed like Maoists and other insurgents who are ambushing and attacking country’s security forces and mercilessly and ruthlessly going on killing spree. Human rights are identified and pleaded for only the “victim” terrorists and their mentors but not the security forces on whom they hurl bombs and engage them in gun battles, preaching religious hatred, secessionism and exclusiveness. Those tribal members are shown as discriminated against and their natural wealth exploited, projecting them as victims of human rights abuses. These NGOs are manned by some “respected” countrymen, activists and intellectuals who against their conscience present one sided biased picture of human rights abuses and discrimination. Based on such tailored data, heavily biased annual reports are brought out against the country by the UK, USA and European Parliaments making us vulnerable to potential international sanctions regime. This is highly unacceptable.
In an affidavit filed in the High court on Feb13, the MHA has said that such reports and instruments had been used very recently against Iran, Russia and North Korea, all of which had deleterious effect on their growth rates, well being and happiness of these countries. In connection with a case filed by Priya Pillia an activist of an NGO known as Green Peace against her off loading from a London bound flight on Jan 11 on the basis of a look out circular issued by the Intelligence Bureau, the government clarified, “She had plans to testify on the alleged “violations” of forest rights of indigenous tribal people in the Mahaan coal block area of Madhya Pradesh.” It looks ludicrous that such activists do not mind portraying their own country in a poor light by speaking to British Parliament and other foreign countries and organizations as they allegedly receive massive funding from such countries. Is it not a matter to be investigated that such NGOs are said to be involved in forex dealings.
We are not being allowed to mine uranium or coal or go in for on shore and off shore oil exploration but made to import these items from foreign countries which hinder our economic growth. Veerappa Moily, the Petroleum Minister in UPA government was compelled to spill the beans by claiming that his ministry was precluded from embarking upon plans to find oil and gas indigenously by lobbyists, middlemen, NGO activists etc “who keep on roaming the corridors of the ministry influencing the government decisions”. It is another thing that Manmohan Singh could do nothing and today BJP led NDA government could break the well established “corporate – mole – babu” nexus running an espionage racket, stealing and selling government secrets of the top cash rich ministry of the country, resulting in the arrest of seven people including a former journalist and an energy consultant. Instead of eulogizing the efforts of Modi government, the united mass opposition against Modi is finding fault. These all sympathize with NGO activist Teesta Stelward even if she and her husband are accused of embezzlement of public money just like Mamta Bannerjee is supported in Sharda chit fund case calling it “witch hunting and political vendetta”. These NGOs are dead silent on pinning down an innocent Indian, killing another young Indian shopkeeper or desecrating a Hindu temple recently in America.
Human rights are only “abused” in India according to one eyed myopic sight of these foreign sponsored and funded anti Indian NGOs and pseudo intellectuals. The vital question is on whose instructions these NGOs operate in India and when shall they face the rigors of law to behave as patriotic Indians and fight for the genuine rights abuses but within our own country, within our own institutions, within the ambit of our laws and within our legislative forums?
Follow our WhatsApp channel