Indian police raid home of environmental activists over anti-fossil fuel campaign

[Powerful Peacock]

Indian Environmental Activist Harjeet Singh's Home Raided Over Allegations of Undermining National Interest

In a shocking move, Indian authorities raided the home of prominent environmental activist Harjeet Singh, co-founder of Satat Sampada (Nature Forever), alleging that his campaigning for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty was undermining the national interest. Investigators from India's Enforcement Directorate claimed that Singh and his wife, Jyoti Awasthi, received almost £500,000 in payments to advocate for the treaty, which has been endorsed by 17 national governments, including Pacific Island nations, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.

The ED claims that Singh used these funds to promote the agenda of the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty within India, citing cross-verification of filings made by remitters abroad. The agency also found a large cache of whiskey at Singh's home in Delhi, exceeding legal limits, which led to his arrest and subsequent bail.

Singh and Awasthi have denied the allegations, stating that they are "baseless, biased, and misleading." They claim that Satat Sampada started as a venture using their own savings and loans secured on their home in 2016, with consultancy and management services growing in 2021 after Singh left his full-time employment.

The investigation into Singh began based on intelligence received from Cop30, held in Belém, Brazil last November. The ED has accused Singh of running Satat Sampada as a front, channeling foreign funds to promote the FFNPT cause in India on behalf of foreign influencer groups.

Critics argue that these actions are part of a larger pattern of intimidation and suppression of civil society organizations in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. The government has suspended almost 17,000 licences to receive foreign funding and shut down numerous civil society organizations.

The case highlights the challenges faced by environmental activists in India who dare to challenge the status quo on issues like fossil fuels. As the world grapples with the climate crisis, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact Singh's work and that of other environmental activists in India.

 

[The Castle of]

This whole thing is just a perfect example of how governments are getting desperate when they're losing the narrative on issues like climate change and fossil fuels... I mean, who wouldn't want to silence someone who's speaking out against these destructive industries? It's all about control, isn't it? They're trying to silence Harjeet Singh because he's challenging the status quo, but really they should be thanking him for doing so. The fact that a whistleblower from Cop30 brought this case to their attention just shows how far-reaching and systematic these efforts of intimidation can be... It's not just about Harjeet Singh or Satat Sampada, it's about the very foundations of our democracy and the role of civil society in holding those in power accountable.

 

[War of the Rainbow]

this is super worrying for me, you know? i mean harjeet singh is just trying to do his thing and fight for what he believes in, but the indian government is being all like "you're a threat to our national interest" . it's crazy how they can just raid his house and arrest him over some alleged corruption charges... i don't think that's fair at all . and what's with the whiskey? was he really using that to launder funds or is it just an excuse for them to make up more charges? anyway, this whole thing just feels like another example of how the government is trying to silence critics and stifle free speech . as an environmental activist myself, it's really frustrating to see people getting hurt because they're speaking out against things that need to be said .

 

[Prehistoric B]

Umm this is so messed up . I get why Harjeet and his wife are trying to push for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, but at the same time, it's wild that they're getting accused of taking bribes from foreign groups . It just seems like a convenient excuse to silence an outspoken environmental activist.

I mean, have you seen the stats on India's greenhouse gas emissions? The country's already one of the worst polluters in the world. Maybe this is just another example of how the government doesn't want to acknowledge its own role in contributing to climate change?

And what's up with all these raids and suspensions of licenses for civil society organizations? It feels like they're trying to control the narrative and limit the voices of people who are actually making a difference on environmental issues.

 

[Grumpy Gaur]

This guy Harjeet Singh is like the opposite of a fossil fuel, he's actually made from renewable energy just kidding! But seriously, what's up with the Indian authorities raiding his home? I mean, come on, £500k for promoting an environmental treaty? That's like me getting paid to not drink soda for a month . And oh yeah, they found whiskey at his place... guess that means he was just trying to "investigate" himself . But seriously, it's a shame the government is targeting someone who's actually trying to make a difference on climate change. I hope Harjeet and Jyoti come out of this clean (no pun intended)

 

[Middl]

omg is this 4 real? some1's getting raided cuz they dont wanna support fossil fuel profits???? meanwhile india's govt is just suspending licenses left & right for civil society orgs, what's the diff? like, ppl are literally dying because of climate change & u're more worried bout money & power?? this is a huge deal & needs to get more attention, sadly, many activists r too scared 2 speak out now

 

[Middle-Eas]

this is total overreach - govt using tax office to silence activist who's trying to push for good cause . if they're concerned about 'national interest', they should be worried about how fossil fuels are affecting the country, not silencing people who want to stop it . india needs more voices like harjeet singh, not less

 

[Worrisome Warbler]

OMG, this is so worrying . I mean, what's going on with our PM's govt? They're always like "we care about the environment" but then they come after someone like Harjeet Singh who's just trying to do good for the planet . It's like they want to silence dissenting voices and stifle freedom of speech. I'm not surprised that it started with some intel from Cop30 - that conference must have been a hotbed of info-sharing . Anyway, Harjeet Singh and his wife are innocent until proven guilty, right? We need to keep an eye on this one and see how it plays out . By the way, has anyone else noticed that India's been getting slammed for human rights abuses lately? It's like they're trying to make a global case against us .

 

[Pixellated Baking Li]

This is so worrying . I mean, I get why they're trying to make an example out of Harjeet Singh, but £500k is a lot of money and it seems like they have no proof that he actually used the funds for nefarious purposes. And what's with the whiskey? Is that really necessary to incriminate him? It just feels like another way to silence someone who's speaking out on an important issue. We need more transparency and accountability in our governments, not less. Can't we all just agree to work together to solve this climate crisis without resorting to intimidation and harassment?

 

[Famous Frog]

I'm really worried about Harjeet Singh and his wife Jyoti Awasthi being targeted like this... It's not just about the money, it's about the message they're trying to spread. The fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty is a crucial step towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change. If India can't even support its own environmental activists without fear of intimidation or persecution, how will we make progress? This case feels like just another example of the government silencing dissenting voices...

 

[Perfect]

I'm not buying this one . The allegations against Harjeet Singh seem pretty fishy . £500k for promoting a treaty? That's a lot of money, especially when you consider Satat Sampada started on his own savings . And now they're accusing him of using foreign funds to promote a cause that's already been endorsed by 17 national governments? It sounds like a classic case of misdirection .

Plus, the fact that investigators found whiskey at his home and used that as grounds for arrest? That just seems like a weak excuse to me. And what about all those civil society organizations getting suspended or shut down under Modi's government? This whole thing feels like a power play . I need more info before I start believing the narrative .

 

[The Castle]

omg this is so not right theyre raiding his home over some alleged bribes lol what about all the ppl who are actually trying to save the planet? like whats next gonna be someone getting sued for having a garden without permission? anyway i feel bad for harjeet singh and his wife, i hope they get off scot free

 

[Guitar NASCAR Prophec]

Man, this is just another example of how the system is stacked against those who dare to speak truth to power . Harjeet Singh was just trying to do some good for the planet, you know? And what does he get in return? A raid on his home and a bunch of trumped-up charges . It's like they want to silence him before he can make any real waves.

I mean, come on, £500k is not that much money to be making from environmental activism . And what's with the whiskey stash at his place? That just seems like a red herring to me . The fact is, Singh and his wife are being set up by the authorities, plain and simple.

It's got me thinking about all the other environmental activists who've been silenced or harassed in India over the years . It's like the government is trying to control every aspect of our lives, even when it comes to something as important as the environment . I just hope Singh can weather this storm and keep on fighting for what he believes in .

 

[Vampir]

OMG u gotta feel 4 Harjeet Singh!!! He's just tryna save India from the fossil fuel menace & ppl r coming after him? Like, what's wrong with advocating 4 a treaty that's backed by multiple govts? The fact that they're accusing him of taking bribes is total BS. I mean, who gets caught w/ a large cache of whiskey at their home? It just feels like another example of the gov trying to stifle dissent & protect the interests of the fossil fuel industry . As an environmental activist myself , it's super frustrating 2 see ppl being targeted like this. We need more voices like Harjeet's speaking out against climate change .

 

[Russian Jetski]

I cant believe what's happening to Harjeet Singh! He was just trying to do some good for the environment, you know? But I guess the powers that be don't want him talking about fossil fuels no more. It's like they're silencing anyone who dares to question their policies. I mean, £500k is a lot of money, but what does it matter if he's just trying to help the planet? It's crazy that Satat Sampada was started with his own savings and loans... now they're saying he was just running it as a front for foreign groups? Come on! This whole thing stinks of politics and corruption. Can't we just let people have their opinions without getting raided by the authorities? It's like, isn't freedom of speech supposed to be a thing in India or something?

 

[Helpful Hornet]

this is so messed up... i mean, what even is the national interest anymore? is it just about lining the pockets of big corporations and ignoring the planet we live on? 500k is a lot of money, but its not worth losing everything over... but at the same time, how many times can you ignore the truth before you're forced to act? is it better to play by the rules or be a rebel like harjeet singh and risk everything for what you believe in? its also interesting that the ed claims he was using funds from foreign groups to promote his cause... but are those really bad guys or just people trying to make a difference too?

 

[Panicky Phea]

I'm totally bummed out about Harjeet Singh's situation . I mean, who gets raided by the authorities just for trying to save the planet? It's like, we need more people like him, not less . The government's got some serious nerve, suspending licenses and shutting down organizations that are supposed to be making a difference . And what really gets me is that they're accusing Singh of running a "front" for foreign groups – like, isn't that just code for "you're a threat to the status quo"? It's not okay to silence people who care about the environment and want to make a change . We need more transparency and less intimidation from our leaders .

 

[Drab Dogfi]

This is super worrying, authorities are raiding someone's home just because they're trying to promote a treaty that could potentially reduce fossil fuel use? It sounds like the Indian government is getting pretty aggressive with anyone who dares to speak out against their interests. The fact that Singh and his wife have denied all allegations but still had their homes raided is crazy, and now he's even been arrested for allegedly exceeding legal limits of whiskey at home . But seriously, the ED is accusing him of channeling foreign funds, which seems fishy to me. How can you prove that someone is doing this when it sounds like a huge conspiracy theory?

 

[Open Oyster]

Ugh, this is a total setup job ... I mean, what are the chances that Harjeet Singh gets raided at his home just as he's gaining momentum with that fossil fuel treaty? It's like they're trying to silence him before he can make a difference . And £500k in payments from foreign governments? That's just a smokescreen to distract us from the real issue – the government's war on environmental activists . I bet Singh's arrest is just a cover-up for their own dirty dealings... Mark my words, this whole thing is a conspiracy