Jaising NGO ‘lobbied with MPs’

NEW DELHI: The showcause notice issued by the home ministry against former additional solicitor general Indira Jaising’s Lawyers Collective has alleged the NGO “indulged in lobbying with Members of Parliament and thereby influencing the political processes and parliamentary institutions”, which according to MHA is violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

According to the order, Lawyer’s Collective used Rs 13 lakh out of foreign contribution in advocacy with MP or Media to organise rallies/dharnas, draft legislation meetings in 2009, 2011 and 2014. Jaising told ET: “The NGO organised dharnas/rallies with HIV/AIDS people. They had gathered as government was sitting on an anti-discrimination law that was drafted with our help. The government was ignoring this and in order to convince them, we have met MPs in 2009, 2011 and 2014. It is not a political activity but MHA has termed this as ‘political hue’. There is no legal term as ‘political hue’ in FCRA.”