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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| India 'refuses entry' to Greenpeace International staff | India 'refuses entry' to Greenpeace International staff |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A staff member of global campaign group Greenpeace has been prevented from entering India and sent back to Australia, the group has alleged. | A staff member of global campaign group Greenpeace has been prevented from entering India and sent back to Australia, the group has alleged. |
| Aaron Gray-Block was refused entry on Saturday night despite having a valid business visa and all necessary documents, the group said. | |
| It added that no formal reason was given by immigration officials and he was not officially deported. | It added that no formal reason was given by immigration officials and he was not officially deported. |
| A senior government spokesman said officials were looking into the matter. | |
| KS Dhatwalia told the AFP news agency that officials had seen the media reports of the alleged incident. | |
| Greenpeace said Aaron Gray-Block was on his way to meetings in India when immigration officials stopped him at Bangalore airport on Saturday night and put him on a flight to Kuala Lumpur without explanation. | |
| His passport was seized and returned to him once he landed in the Malaysian capital, the environmental group said in a statement. | |
| "Our colleague has a valid business visa, and yet he was prevented from entering India with no reason given," Divya Raghunandan, programme director of Greenpeace India, said. | |
| "We are forced to wonder if all international staff of Greenpeace will now be prevented from entering the country?" | |
| Greenpeace has been involved in a long-running dispute with the Indian authorities. | Greenpeace has been involved in a long-running dispute with the Indian authorities. |
| In April, India blocked the group's bank accounts, accusing it of violating tax laws and working against its economic interests. | In April, India blocked the group's bank accounts, accusing it of violating tax laws and working against its economic interests. |
| 'Stalling projects' | 'Stalling projects' |
| In a major victory for the environmental group, the Delhi high court ordered the government to unfreeze two Greenpeace bank accounts last month. | In a major victory for the environmental group, the Delhi high court ordered the government to unfreeze two Greenpeace bank accounts last month. |
| Greenpeace, which has been present in India for 14 years and employs 340 people, says it has been targeted because of its campaigns on issues such as pollution and harmful pesticides. | Greenpeace, which has been present in India for 14 years and employs 340 people, says it has been targeted because of its campaigns on issues such as pollution and harmful pesticides. |
| India accuses the group of "stalling development projects" by protesting against large infrastructure plans. | India accuses the group of "stalling development projects" by protesting against large infrastructure plans. |
| Since coming to power in May last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has cracked down on several non-governmental organisations, leading to critics accusing him of showing undemocratic tendencies. | Since coming to power in May last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has cracked down on several non-governmental organisations, leading to critics accusing him of showing undemocratic tendencies. |
| A month ago, India cancelled the registration of nearly 9,000 foreign-funded groups, saying they did not comply with the country's tax laws. | A month ago, India cancelled the registration of nearly 9,000 foreign-funded groups, saying they did not comply with the country's tax laws. |