home Ministry
New Delhi: The Home Ministry has taken major action against the think tank of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s daughter. The government has canceled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of leading think tank Center for Policy Research for alleged violation of rules. Officials gave this information on Wednesday.
Think tank under investigation after raid
The move by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) comes almost a year after suspending the registration of non-profit organizations (NGOs) under the FCRA. The think-tank is under investigation after the raids conducted by the Income Tax Department.
The Home Ministry canceled the FCRA registration of the NGO for alleged violation of the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Act. Earlier the FCRA license was suspended for 180 days in February 2023. The suspension was then extended for another 180 days.
Where does the funding come from?
According to its website, the Center for Policy Research (CPR) has been one of India’s leading think-tanks since 1973. It states that it is a non-profit, non-partisan, independent institute dedicated to study.
‘CPR’ received donations from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, World Bank, Ford Foundation, Brown University and other institutions. Former members of its governing body included former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Chief Justice of India late Y.V. Chandrachud, veteran journalist late B.G. Varghese.
When ‘CPR’ challenged its suspension in the Delhi High Court, the Home Ministry had argued that there was a need to stop foreign funding to CPR as it was receiving foreign funding for undesirable purposes, affecting the economic interests of the country. Can.
The Home Ministry alleged that CPR transferred foreign donations to other entities in violation of the FCRA and deposited the donations in accounts that were not on record.
When contacted, CPR President and CEO Yamini Iyer said the organization would issue a statement soon. (input language)
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