US seeking clarification on suspension of licenses of NGOs

WASHINGTON, May 1: The US is seeking clarification from India on suspension of licenses of several thousands non-governmental organisations (NGO), a State Department spokesperson said.

“We know the reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the licenses of several thousand NGOs. I don’t know if we have a precise number,” the State Department Acting Spokesperson, Marie Harf, told reporters at her daily news conference.

“We are seeking a clarification on this issue with the appropriate Indian authorities. I don’t have any response to that yet,” she said when asked about news reports that the Indian government has suspended licenses of several thousand NGOs.

The Indian government had on Tuesday decided to scrap licenses of more than 9,000 NGOs for allegedly violating Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), accusing it of being “revengeful” and targeting selectively. (PTI)