Govt finding out if overseas funds were used in nuke protest

Government today said it was still not proved that the money received by NGOs in Tamil Nadu from abroad was being used for protests against nuclear power projects and a probe in this regard is underway.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for PMO, V Narayanasamy also refused to identify the NGOs, which are under investigation, and said it can not be divulged as long as the investigations are not completed.

In his statement, he said preliminary reports indicate that NGOs in the country, especially those working in and around Kudankulam area and involved in the agitation against the nuclear power plant, are receiving funds from certain countries.

"Detailed investigation will reveal the source of funding and the expenditure pattern of these NGOs, that are opposing the Kudankulam nuclear power project. CBI inquiry against two NGOs have been ordered. Two criminal cases have been referred to Tamil Nadu police for investigation," he said.

Quoting a recent interview of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said while Singh had very clearly said that the NGOs from US and Scandinavian countries are sending money to people who are involved in the protests here, "whether the same money is being used (to fuel protests here) is not proved."

To repeated questions, he said, "investigations are going on...so far as investigations are not complete" and refused to identify the suspected NGOs.

He said as far as the question about the name of NGOs is concerned, the entire investigation is being carried out by the Home Ministry.

Referring to an earlier statement of Home Minister P Chidmabaram on the issue, Narayanasamy said, "We have identified four NGOs, which are actively involved near Kudankulam (nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu)."