NEW DELHI, 24 July 2020: The India Greens Party (IGP) has condemned the Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar for booking the Fridays For Future (FFF) India as a terrorist.
In a press statement here, the IGP President Suresh Nautiyal said that the Centre was trying to muzzle the FFF’s voice for objecting to the dilution of draft EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Notification.
“Instead of focusing on ensuring the protection of the environment, the draft EIA-2020 undermines the orders of the NGT which had ruled against post-facto approvals,” the IGP President Suresh Nautiyal pointed out, adding that the purpose of the notification is to legitimise illegalities done by industries.
“We support the FFF India which has been carrying out an email campaign against the draft EIA-2020. It is regrettable that the government shut down the FFF India’s website and a few days later the organisation received a legal notice by the Minister of Environment with allegations of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Protection Act),” added the IGP President.
Mr Nautiyal said the present government has converted democracy into mockery. Being called terrorists for dissenting an anti-environmental bill makes everybody question what the biggest democracy of the world was doing.
It is sad that environmental activism is terrorism in the eyes of the Environment Minister. It is ridiculous to invoke the UAPA against an NGO working for the protection of environment and which has linkage to Greta Thunberg’s organisation Fridays For Future.
“How can such an organisation like the FFF India be dangerous for India’s peace, tranquillity and sovereignty,” wondered the IGP leader.
Mr Nautiyal said the Centre should revoke such a ridiculous decision to invoke UAPA against an NGO.
-Issued by IGP Spokesperson Michael Rajchandra.
