The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revoked the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), citing alleged violations of the law, government sources told ANI on Thursday.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revoked the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s organisation, the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), citing alleged violations of the law: Government sources
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Notably, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been investigating Wangchuk’s organisation, the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), for the past two months. However, so far, no preliminary enquiry (PE) or regular case has been registered, as reported by ANI quoting sources.
According to CBI sources, the investigation is being done against alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The Ladakh Administration had cancelled the land allotment granted to the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL) in August. While cancelling the land allotment, the administration stated that the land was not being used for the purpose for which it was originally allotted and that no lease agreement had been executed.
The CBI investigation is still ongoing, and a preliminary enquiry (PE) may be registered by the CBI after its completion.
What did Wangchuk say on CBI probe?
Reacting on the CBI probe on his institute for alleged FCRA violation, activist Sonam Wangchuk said, “I had received a notice about a CBI inquiry stating that your organisation received foreign funding even when it did not have FCRA. We did not get FCRA because we don’t want funds from abroad. United Nations team wanted to take our Passive Solar Heated Building to Afghanistan, and for this, they gave us a fee. We also got fees with tax from Switzerland and Italy organisations for supplying knowledge to them about our artificial glaciers…We are getting I-T summons. In the series of witch hunting, yesterday’s events were the last and all blame was put on Sonam Wangchuk.”
Earlier, the MHA pinned the blame for Wednesday’s violent protests in Leh over the implementation of the 6th schedule on Wangchuk. The statement by MHA read: “Activist Sonam Wangchuk began a hunger strike on September 10, demanding the 6th Schedule and statehood for Ladakh. It is well known that the Government of India has been actively engaged with the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance on the same issues. A series of meetings was held with them through the formal channels of the High-Powered Committee, as well as the Sub-committee, and multiple informal meetings with leaders.”
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