New Delhi: Government has taken a stand to remove the name of Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai, who was offloaded from a flight to London at the IGI airport last month, from the “no-fly” list. However, it also added that the NGO will still be under scanner and can be stopped in future too if it is found that they are presenting a negative image of the country. The information has been confirmed by government sources.
Reportedly, Pillai's name was included in the “no-fly” list after a lookout circular was issued against her on January 9 on the request of Intelligence Bureau (IB) amid speculation that she would indulge in anti-India propaganda on the Mahan coal block issue in a foreign country. She was to fly to London to address a group of British parliamentarians on the issue.
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According to a report of The Indian Express daily, a senior home ministry official said that her name was put on the list only for that particular visit and that now she is free to go to any other country if she wishes to. However, he added, that the activities of the NGO with which she is related will continue to be under watch.
Earlier government was rigid to retain her name in the no-fly list as it is against Greenpeace and other foreign NGOs.
A senior official said, “The testimonies of these activists are used to send out a negative image of India in foreign countries. We are keeping a watch on activists who try to project India in poor light in front of foreign individuals.”
