Activist Sonam Wangchuk on September 25 claimed that accusations of FCRA violations are incorrect and termed the BJP-led Central government’s actions as “witch hunt” over his participation in Ladakh’s protests for statehood and inclusion in the sixth schedule.
"In the series of witch hunting, yesterday's events were the last and all blame was put on Sonam Wangchuk,” he told ANI.
Wangchuk said the home ministry blamed him for the Leh protests, which had turned violent and led to the death of at least 4 individuals.
He said he received a notice about a CBI inquiry, saying that my organisation has received foreign funding even when it did not have FCRA.
Govt cancels FCRA licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO
Wangchuk said his organisation does not have FCRA because it does not require foreign donations.
“We did not get FCRA because we don't want funds from abroad. United Nations team wanted to take our Passive Solar Heated Building to Afghanistan, and for this, they gave us a fee. We also got fees with tax from Switzerland and Italy organisations for supplying knowledge to them about our artificial glaciers...We are getting I-T summons.”
He said the government authorities accepted that they mistook the fees as foreign donations but they still kept on looking to find something incrimination against him and his organisation.
Wangchuk said he and his organisation are sharing India’s knowledge to the world, and any educational institution would be proud for such achievements. Instead, the government is taking actions against us, he said.
Moreover, the activist claimed that Ladakh is exempted from the payment of tax, but still the government is sending us tax notices. “There is only one person who pays tax in Ladakh and that is me. How many people are there who pay taxes when they are not liable to? I pay because I feel its my duty.”
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