File Photo: US Ambassador to India Richard Verma.
US ambassador to India Richard Verma met Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan at Parliament House this morning, even as his comments on the Centre imposing restrictions on international agencies like Greenpeace and the Ford Foundation drew fire from political parties.
Though Ms Mahajan's office didn't officially comment on his visit, officials in Speaker's office described the envoy's visit as a routine courtesy call.
Mr Verma had said in a speech on India-US relations yesterday, "I read with some concern the recent press reports on challenges faced by NGOs operating in India," adding, "Because a vibrant civil society is so important to both of our democratic traditions, I do worry about the potentially chilling effects of these regulatory steps focused on NGOs."
Central minister Muqtar Abbas Naqvi of the BJP said today, "Everything is as per the constitution in India. If there are some organisations that violate the law, then the government has full jurisdiction to investigate."
KC Tyagi of the Janata Dal United, a political rival of the ruling BJP too criticised "the American government interfering in the working of the government."
"US should not do policing," said Sanjay Raut of BJP partner Shiv Sena.
The Centre recently barred the US Ford Foundation from giving money to local organisations without its permission, placing it on a "watch list" to ensure funds are used for "bona fide welfare activities without compromising on concerns of national interest and security".
The move followed a complaint from the Gujarat government that the foundation's grants to an NGO run by activist Teesta Setalwad, a critic of PM Modi, were being misused.
The government also recently suspended Greenpeace India's foreign funding licence after accusing the environmental pressure group of hurting the country's economic interests.
On Thursday, the home ministry dismissed reports suggesting that it was looking into the funding of the US-based Gates Foundation, PTI reported.
"Reports in a section of media about the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation coming under the scanner of the Home Ministry is not based on facts. There is no such action," Home Ministry spokesperson KS Dhatwalia said.