Day after Leh violence, Centre cancels Sonam Wangchuk NGO's FCRA licence, Pg 9.

Key Highlights:

• The MHA cancelled the FCRA licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, a day after the Leh violence.
• The cancellation follows a CBI preliminary inquiry into alleged FCRA violations by the NGO.
• The government stated that Wangchuk’s provocative statements incited the violent statehood protest in Leh.
• The MHA order cites violations of Section 17 and Section 12(4) of the FCRA Act as reasons for the cancellation.

Detailed Insights:

• The show cause notice was served to the organisation on August 20, followed by a letter on September 10, regarding the cancellation of the FCRA registration certificate.
• The organisation deposited ₹3.5 lakh in its FCRA account in 2021-22, violating Section 17 of the FCRA Act, according to the MHA.
• Local funds amounting to ₹54,600 were deposited in the FCRA account in 2020-21 by three individuals, which is a violation of Section 17.
• The association received ₹4,93,205 from foreign donors in 2021-22 in violation of Section 12(4) of the FCRA Act, as per the MHA.

Key Concepts Involved:

• FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act): An act to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies.
• Statehood: The status of being a recognized independent nation.
• NGO (Non-Governmental Organization): A non-profit, citizen-based group that functions independently of government.