Indian Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai's 'offload' stamp removed by Foreigners Regional Registration Office

NEW DELHI: Acting on the Delhi High Court order, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) - which works under the home ministry — finally on Wednesday revoked the travel restriction of the Greenpeace India activist Priya Pillai by officially expunging ' offload' stamp from her passport, ending her four month ordeal.

The episode, however, has not spared the NGO from the ministry's other allegation against it in a different case. The home ministry continued to keep it under its radar in the case that led to suspension of the group's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration and freezing of its seven bank accounts in April.

"The action marks the end of a four month ordeal which was triggered by a controversial 'look-out circular' from the Intelligence Bureau", said the Greenpeace India in its statement, announcing the FRRO's move to expunge the 'offload' stamp from Pillai's passport. The travel restriction was overturned by the Delhi high court in March.

Reacting on the FRRO's decision, Pillai said, "Today I feel relief, as well as great pride in India's legal system and our democracy as a whole. But we should not have to rely on the courts to deal with overzealous actions from the ministry of home affairs (MHA).

"As I speak, Greenpeace India's national bank accounts are still blocked, meaning that Indian citizens are being prevented from supporting a democratic cause. That is shameful.

"We believe that our case is strong and expect that the courts will rule in our favour once again. But the MHA knows that we do not have much time left. It lacks the courage to try to ban Greenpeace outright and is using arbitrary penalties to strangle us. This won't work. I am confident that democracy will win out in the end."

The home ministry, on the other hand, insisted on its allegation against the NGO. The minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that an inquiry conducted by the ministry had found that the Greenpeace India had transferred foreign contribution to other than FCRA designated bank accounts, under-reported and repeatedly mentioned incorrect amount of foreign funds received in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

He also informed the Upper House that incurring more than 50% of foreign contribution on administrative expenditure, replacement of 50% or more of the executive committee members without obtaining prior approval of home ministry and transferring foreign contribution to a non-FCRA registered NGO and payment of salary to foreign activists are some of the other violations of rules by the Greenpeace India.