Amnesty Intl impact: Charities ask Centre not to be like China
India should not replicate China by trying to stamp out dissent, civil liberty activists said on Thursday, alarmed over Amnesty International’s decision to temporarily close its offices in India after facing political protests and sedition charges.
Police launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a right-wing students’ group that “anti-India” slogans were raised at an event hosted by the charity in Bangalore.
The rights group has asked its staff not to come to office for now. The move has left charities and non-government organisations nervous.
“The government is investigating and I hope no charges will be framed,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, director human rights watch, South Asia. “But the broader concern is that the antinational narrative is picking up and we need to hear people raising slogans, which is a peaceful way as compared to (using a) gun.”