MHA urges a CBI investigation against Harsh Mander’s Organization Aman Biradari.
According to sources, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended a CBI investigation into Aman Biradari, an Organization founded by writer and human rights campaigner Harsh Mander, for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
Mander launched Aman Biradari — “a people’s movement for a secular, peaceful, just, and humane world” — while serving on Sonia Gandhi’s National Advisory Council during the previous UPA government.
According to officials, a CBI investigation has been recommended against Aman Biradari for violations of different provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
Under the FCRA, all Organizations receiving foreign money are required to register with the Home Ministry.
Mander is the “creator of Aman Biradari, a people’s campaign for a secular, peaceful, just, and humane world, formed following the Gujarat communal tragedy of 2002,” according to his website (https://harshmander.in).
“Aman Biradari works closely with various people’s organisations and groups to defend secularism, promote public compassion, and promote constitutional ideals,” it says.
For alleged violations of rules, the MHA cancelled the FCRA registration of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), two NGOs led by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, in October 2022.
According to officials, 1,827 associations’ FCRA registrations were cancelled between 2018 and 2022 owing to violations of its requirements and standards.
There were 16,383 FCRA-registered organisations as of March 10, 2023.
The Rajya Sabha was informed last week that Indian NGOs had received Rs 55,449 crore in foreign donations during the last three years.
NGOs across the country received Rs 16,306.04 crore in 2019-20, Rs 17,058.64 crore in 2020-21, and Rs 22,085.10 crore in 2021-22.
