India Raids Home of Prominent Environmental Activist Over Fossil Fuel Campaign
Indian authorities have carried out a dramatic raid on the home of Harjeet Singh, co-founder of Satat Sampada (Nature Forever), one of India's leading environmental activism groups. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that Singh and his wife Jyoti Awasthi were paid nearly £500,000 to advocate for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty (FFNPT), which they say undermines the national interest.
The ED is scrutinizing Singh over allegations of misdeclaration and misrepresentation of foreign funds received by Satat Sampada. Investigators claim that the group's consultancy services turned profitable in 2021, suggesting that they were being used to channel funds for a foreign agenda. The agency alleges that Singh used his organization as a front to promote the FFNPT cause in India.
Singh and Awasthi have denied all allegations, stating that they started Satat Sampada with their own savings and that the group's consultancy services grew after Singh left his full-time employment. They claim that their work and contributions are well-documented and refute the ED's claims as "baseless, biased, and misleading."
The raid on Singh's home comes at a time when civil society organizations in India under the current government have faced severe pressures. Nearly 17,000 licenses to receive foreign funding have been suspended, and many groups have shut down.
India's decision to scrutinize environmental activism raises concerns about freedom of speech and the role of civil society in promoting climate action. The FFNPT Initiative has gained support from various international organizations and governments, including Pacific Island nations, the World Health Organization, and European parliament members.
The investigation into Singh is ongoing, but it highlights the challenges faced by environmental activists in India who are fighting for climate justice and transparency in government decision-making.
Indian authorities have carried out a dramatic raid on the home of Harjeet Singh, co-founder of Satat Sampada (Nature Forever), one of India's leading environmental activism groups. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that Singh and his wife Jyoti Awasthi were paid nearly £500,000 to advocate for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty (FFNPT), which they say undermines the national interest.
The ED is scrutinizing Singh over allegations of misdeclaration and misrepresentation of foreign funds received by Satat Sampada. Investigators claim that the group's consultancy services turned profitable in 2021, suggesting that they were being used to channel funds for a foreign agenda. The agency alleges that Singh used his organization as a front to promote the FFNPT cause in India.
Singh and Awasthi have denied all allegations, stating that they started Satat Sampada with their own savings and that the group's consultancy services grew after Singh left his full-time employment. They claim that their work and contributions are well-documented and refute the ED's claims as "baseless, biased, and misleading."
The raid on Singh's home comes at a time when civil society organizations in India under the current government have faced severe pressures. Nearly 17,000 licenses to receive foreign funding have been suspended, and many groups have shut down.
India's decision to scrutinize environmental activism raises concerns about freedom of speech and the role of civil society in promoting climate action. The FFNPT Initiative has gained support from various international organizations and governments, including Pacific Island nations, the World Health Organization, and European parliament members.
The investigation into Singh is ongoing, but it highlights the challenges faced by environmental activists in India who are fighting for climate justice and transparency in government decision-making.
this raid is so messed up 
500k is a small price to pay for the good work Satat Sampada does! 
they're actually helping bring about change, not just lining pockets of corrupt officials 
these Indian authorities need to focus on real crimes and stop harassing innocent activists 
. I've seen some crazy stuff in my day, but this takes the cake. The fact that they're under investigation over a treaty that's actually backed by some pretty big international players makes it all seem like a smear campaign 
. What's really going on here? Is India just trying to silence anyone who speaks out against fossil fuels? 
It's scary stuff, guys... 
the ed claims he used his org as a front to push a foreign agenda, but we all know that's just a bunch of nonsense 
satat sampada has been doing real work for years, and now they're being penalized for it? not cool 
. They're saying Harjeet Singh used his org as a front for a foreign agenda, but what if he was just trying to make a difference? 
. As someone who cares about climate action, it's heartbreaking to see environmental activists being unfairly targeted 
. The fact that Satat Sampada has international support and is promoting a treaty that many countries are backing should give Singh and his wife some credibility 
. It's not fair that they're being accused of misrepresentation when their work is transparent 
. I hope this investigation doesn't escalate into something more... 
. But seriously, isn't it weird that environmental activists are being scrutinized more than, say, oil companies? It's like they're trying to suck the air out of climate activism in India. The irony is, Harjeet Singh and his team were advocating for a treaty to reduce fossil fuel proliferation, but I guess that's just too much for some folks to handle 
. Anyway, can someone explain to me why India's authorities think this guy's home is the epicenter of a foreign plot? It's like they raided my garage and said, "Hey, we're looking for your toaster... err, I mean, your fossil fuel campaign" 
. I mean, Harjeet Singh is just trying to do his job as an activist, and now he's being hounded by the authorities? It's like they're more worried about profit over planet 
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. I mean, what about freedom of speech? Doesn't India have some sort of constitution that protects citizens' rights? 
. It's not like Singh is some kind of foreign agent trying to undermine Indian interests (although, I guess that's what the ED would have you believe 
). This whole thing just seems like a dirty attempt to discredit environmental activism and stifle critical voices 
We need people speaking out against fossil fuels and pushing for sustainable solutions.
. If we're going to make progress on climate change, we need a free flow of information and ideas, and that means supporting civil society organizations. They're the ones on the ground, doing the hard work, and they deserve our protection 
And what's with all the allegations against Satat Sampada? Are we just gonna assume they're bad without giving 'em a chance to prove themselves? 
."
. I mean, I get that corruption can happen anywhere, but when you're talking about environmental activism and climate action, it's like the government is trying to choke the life out of these people. Like, what even is the point of having a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty if they're just gonna crack down on people who are advocating for it? 
It's not like they were just sponging off foreign funds or anything! 
What's next? Will they start raiding homes of journalists or scientists too? 
We need more transparency and freedom to speak out about important issues, not less! 
The fact that they raided Harjeet Singh's home over a campaign he was passionate about just shows how far the government will go to suppress dissenting voices. And what really gets my goat is that these allegations are so sketchy - £500k for promoting an international treaty? It sounds like a bunch of BS to me 
It's not just about Harjeet Singh or Satat Sampada; it's about the erosion of trust and the silencing of voices that need to be heard. We need to hold our governments accountable for transparency and accountability, not silence dissenting voices 
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. Can't wait for this to get sorted out 
! The guy's just trying to save our planet and now he's being treated like a crook. I mean, if the govt's so worried about people misusing funds, why don't they look at all the big oil companies getting millions in subsidies? It's all about who you know and what you're saying 
. We need more people like Harjeet speaking out, not less 
.
Can't a guy just advocate for the environment without getting raided? I mean, come on, £500k is like, peanuts for a fossil fuel-free campaign 
. The fact that Satat Sampada's consultancy services turned profitable in 2021 is probably just because people want their money back after being misled about environmental causes 
.