India Moves Against Foreign Funding of Activist Groups

India’s government is moving to hold up foreign contributions to domestic charities in the wake of an internal report on efforts by environmental and human rights organizations to rally opposition to controversial industries, reports the Associated Press.

The national Investigative Bureau criticizes Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and other groups for spearheading protests against nuclear and coal-fired power plants, uranium mines, genetically modified crops, and electronic waste. The report, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, says such efforts are costing the country up to 3 percent of its gross domestic product.

India’s Home Ministry would neither confirm nor deny the existence of the report, but earlier this month it ordered the country’s central bank to hold foreign contributions to India-based charities until they are cleared by the government. Home Ministry spokesman K.S. Dhatwalia said the order would help the government control the flow of money into India and how it is spent.