We value partnerships with NGOs: Prakash Javadekar

5 Dariya News

New Delhi 08-Jun-2015

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said his ministry valued partnerships with the NGOs and had nothing to do with alleged denial of entry to a Greenpeace member into the country.Reacting to reports that Aaron Gray-Block of NGO Greenpeace International was "barred" from entering India despite having a valid business visa and necessary documents, Javdekar said there were other NGOs in the country as well which were doing a lot of work for the masses."We value NGO partnerships and have recently conducted a workshop and a consultation meeting of 125 NGOs who are working with the masses in afforestation, wildlife management," said Javdekar.

"NGOs are not just one or two, there is no monopoly," he said. "We have nothing to do with this, this is a different ministry doing for security reasons."Greenpeace India activist Priya Pillai was stopped from flying to London in January. However, on March 12, Pillai was granted relief by the Delhi High court which quashed the look out circular issued against her.On April 9, Home Minister Rajnath Singh blocked Greenpeace India's bank accounts for which the environmental group had to seek interim relief from the Delhi High Court.However, on May 27 the Delhi High Court allowed NGO Greenpeace India to operate two of its domestic accounts, which were frozen by the central government.