FCRA of suppose tank CPR suspended: In ‘new India’, folks with impartial pondering are ‘harassed’, says Cong

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended the FCRA licence of outstanding public think-tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR) for six months over alleged violation of legal guidelines, officers mentioned on Thursday.

CPR, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in an announcement, mentioned it continues to cooperate totally with authorities, is in full compliance with the legislation and is routinely scrutinised and audited by authorities authorities, together with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

It additionally mentioned in gentle of the present order, it is going to “explore all avenues of recourse” obtainable to it.

CPR was beneath scrutiny after Income Tax surveys on it and Oxfam India in September final 12 months.

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of CPR has been suspended over alleged violation of legal guidelines, the officers mentioned.

Oxfam’s FCRA licence was suspended in January final 12 months, after which the NGO had filed a revision petition with the house ministry.

With the suspension of its licence, given beneath the FCRA, the Centre for Policy Research won’t be able to obtain any funds from overseas.

ALSO READ | ‘Internet shut, data seized’: Think tanks CPR, Oxfam recall I-T dept ‘surveys’

The donors of CPR included the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, the World Resources Institute and the Duke University, the officers mentioned.

According to CPR’s web site, its founder is Pai Panindiker and former members of the governing board embrace former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Chief Justice of India, the late, Y V Chandrachud.

The think-tank has been requested to provide clarification and paperwork concerning FCRA funds obtained by it, the officers mentioned.

The FCRA licence of CPR was final renewed in 2016 and was due for renewal in 2021.

In its assertion, CPR mentioned the Ministry of Home Affairs has intimated it that its registration beneath the FCRA has been suspended for a interval of 180 days.

In September 2022, the Income Tax Department performed a survey at CPR’s premises, and as a part of the survey follow-up course of, CPR obtained a number of notices from the division, it mentioned.

Following due course of, detailed and exhaustive responses have been submitted to the division, the NGO mentioned.

“CPR has and continues to cooperate fully with the authorities. We are in complete compliance with the law and are routinely scrutinised and audited by government authorities, including the Comptroller and Auditor General of India,” the assertion mentioned.

CPR mentioned it has annual statutory audits, all its annual audited steadiness sheets are within the public area and “there is no question of having undertaken any activity that is beyond our objects of association and compliance mandated by law”.

“In light of the current MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) order, we will explore all avenues of recourse available to us,” it mentioned.

ALSO READ | FCRA of suppose tank CPR suspended: In ‘new India’, folks with impartial pondering are ‘harassed’, says Cong

The NGO mentioned its work and institutional goal is to advance its constitutional targets and defend constitutional ensures. “We are absolutely confident that the matter will be resolved speedily, in fairness and in the spirit of our constitutional values,” it mentioned.

The CPR mentioned it was based in 1973 and it has been one in every of India’s main coverage analysis establishments, house to a number of eminent thinkers and coverage practitioners whose contribution to coverage in India is nicely recognised. It is an impartial, non-partisan establishment that conducts its work with full educational and monetary integrity, CPR mentioned.

CPR works with authorities departments, autonomous establishments, charitable organisations and universities in India and throughout the globe, the assertion mentioned.

The establishment’s work is globally recognised for its educational and coverage excellence and full-time and visiting students at CPR embrace members of NITI Aayog, former diplomats, civil servants, members of the Indian Army, journalists and main researchers, it mentioned.

Through its five-decade-long historical past, CPR has labored in partnership with governments and grassroots organisations which embrace partnerships with the ministries of setting, forest and local weather change, rural growth and jal shakti, and governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and Rajasthan amongst others.

The CPR’s web site mentioned by its analysis and policymaking engagements, CPR works intently with policymakers in its intention to position India firmly on the trail of constructing a twenty-first-century coverage ecosystem, the NGO’s web site mentioned.

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended the FCRA licence of outstanding public think-tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR) for six months over alleged violation of legal guidelines, officers mentioned on Thursday.

CPR, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in an announcement, mentioned it continues to cooperate totally with authorities, is in full compliance with the legislation and is routinely scrutinised and audited by authorities authorities, together with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

It additionally mentioned in gentle of the present order, it is going to “explore all avenues of recourse” obtainable to it.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

CPR was beneath scrutiny after Income Tax surveys on it and Oxfam India in September final 12 months.

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of CPR has been suspended over alleged violation of legal guidelines, the officers mentioned.

Oxfam’s FCRA licence was suspended in January final 12 months, after which the NGO had filed a revision petition with the house ministry.

With the suspension of its licence, given beneath the FCRA, the Centre for Policy Research won’t be able to obtain any funds from overseas.

ALSO READ | ‘Internet shut, data seized’: Think tanks CPR, Oxfam recall I-T dept ‘surveys’

The donors of CPR included the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, the World Resources Institute and the Duke University, the officers mentioned.

According to CPR’s web site, its founder is Pai Panindiker and former members of the governing board embrace former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Chief Justice of India, the late, Y V Chandrachud.

The think-tank has been requested to provide clarification and paperwork concerning FCRA funds obtained by it, the officers mentioned.

The FCRA licence of CPR was final renewed in 2016 and was due for renewal in 2021.

In its assertion, CPR mentioned the Ministry of Home Affairs has intimated it that its registration beneath the FCRA has been suspended for a interval of 180 days.

In September 2022, the Income Tax Department performed a survey at CPR’s premises, and as a part of the survey follow-up course of, CPR obtained a number of notices from the division, it mentioned.

Following due course of, detailed and exhaustive responses have been submitted to the division, the NGO mentioned.

“CPR has and continues to cooperate fully with the authorities. We are in complete compliance with the law and are routinely scrutinised and audited by government authorities, including the Comptroller and Auditor General of India,” the assertion mentioned.

CPR mentioned it has annual statutory audits, all its annual audited steadiness sheets are within the public area and “there is no question of having undertaken any activity that is beyond our objects of association and compliance mandated by law”.

“In light of the current MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) order, we will explore all avenues of recourse available to us,” it mentioned.

ALSO READ | FCRA of suppose tank CPR suspended: In ‘new India’, folks with impartial pondering are ‘harassed’, says Cong

The NGO mentioned its work and institutional goal is to advance its constitutional targets and defend constitutional ensures. “We are absolutely confident that the matter will be resolved speedily, in fairness and in the spirit of our constitutional values,” it mentioned.

The CPR mentioned it was based in 1973 and it has been one in every of India’s main coverage analysis establishments, house to a number of eminent thinkers and coverage practitioners whose contribution to coverage in India is nicely recognised. It is an impartial, non-partisan establishment that conducts its work with full educational and monetary integrity, CPR mentioned.

CPR works with authorities departments, autonomous establishments, charitable organisations and universities in India and throughout the globe, the assertion mentioned.

The establishment’s work is globally recognised for its educational and coverage excellence and full-time and visiting students at CPR embrace members of NITI Aayog, former diplomats, civil servants, members of the Indian Army, journalists and main researchers, it mentioned.

Through its five-decade-long historical past, CPR has labored in partnership with governments and grassroots organisations which embrace partnerships with the ministries of setting, forest and local weather change, rural growth and jal shakti, and governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and Rajasthan amongst others.

The CPR’s web site mentioned by its analysis and policymaking engagements, CPR works intently with policymakers in its intention to position India firmly on the trail of constructing a twenty-first-century coverage ecosystem, the NGO’s web site mentioned.