8 May 2013

Civil Society condemns freezing of INSAF bank accounts, to challenge MHA orders

New Delhi, May 08’ 13: Civil society groups, concerned individuals, activists and representatives from peoples’ organizations have fiercely condemned the draconian act of freezing the bank account of Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) and suspension of its FCRA by Ministry of Home Affairs in a meeting held in INSAF office here on Wednesday presided by the senior journalist and human rights defender Anand Swaroop Verma.

The meeting deliberated on the grounds upon which this decision has been imposed by the government. Veteran educationist Anil Chaudhary raised question on the government’s action that invites FDI in sectors that displaces people and robs them of their livelihood on the one hand whereas bans FCRA of those who fight in support of peoples’ livelihoods and rights.

The meeting attended by eminent human rights defenders like Bezwada Wilson, Ashok Chowdhary, Kalyani Menon Sen, P.T. George, Ramesh Dixit, Rajendra Ravi, Afsar Jafri and representatives of various peoples’ organizations unanimously decided to fight the government’s decision under the newly formed banner Janadhikar Sangharsh Samiti. The first meeting against this backdrop is decided to be held on May 17 in the Constitution Club Of India, New Delhi.

It is to be noted that bank accounts of INSAF, a platform of more than 700 civil society and peoples’ organizations, was frozen by MHA, GOI earlier this month regarding which the communiqué was sent to its Delhi office on May 4, 2013. Three days after this, INSAF had taken legal recourse and challenged this undemocratic action of government in the Supreme Court on May 7.