Previous govt had huge concerns as well. PM Singh said "The atomic energy programme has gone into difficulties because these NGOs [non-governmental organisations], mostly I think based in the United States, don't appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17150953

Also, Important to note that some of the changes to laws for NGOs were done during congress led UPA govt as well. It is just that changes to laws have now been highlighted more by mainstream media.

The government's perspective. Apparently, the bank account that was frozen violated money laundering laws and was upheld by a court. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/...

The govt has been tackling entities that do not conform with their views. Conformance is their objective.

The government has been tracking foreign funding, as it should. There is no shortage of examples where external government agencies (mostly western) have tried to influence internal politics or topple governments (mostly 3rd world).

Government needs to ensure whether NGOs are working as per there declared mandate and need to ensure their mandatory legal compliance requirements. And it isn't "Conformance to their objective" is mandatory legal compliance in a democracy.

It's not a question of legitimate complaint. They didn't complain, they froze assets and halted the organisation's activity.

The question is whether or not the Indian government's actions are legitimate, and whether or not their stated reasons are true. On the later, it seems to be a clear no.

was that the case here?

Yes and no.

There were certain documents that shoud have been filed, but in general the interpretation or norm was that they didnt need to be.

The new govt which came into power eforced this rule and of course, everyone struggled to fill it - the media scoop was "non compliance".

IN addition, this was all done on the backs of a terrible IB (intelligence bureau) report which was leaked.

The report was used as an excuse to demonize NGOs and reduce any statue they had in the market of ideas.

I have read the report, and it is so laughably bad, that I wouldn't doubt if someone told me that all of India's security apparatuses had been compromised and were run by foreign powers.

Sections of that document included parts which warned that NGOs had been able to plot, on a map, the location of extant, proposed and in construction nuclear power plants. "The use of handwritten notes was to foil the ability of text scanners."

Additionally, there are multiple sections that correlate receipt of foreign funds as signs of collusion with foreign powers. Even if it is Greenpeace getting funding from international members.

The amount of actual scrutiny in 2014 on this document was nil.

You can read the report here: https://kractivist.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NGO-Report...

If anyone reads it, you will immediately see what is up, since the sight of a google map with pins being lauded as a villainous mastermind about to damage India was laughable.

In this particular case it is money laundering. These NGOs receive foreign funds without Govt. approvals and the state is slapping the law on them.

Government agencies have filed official complaints against them in recent years. But it's not clear what came out of it.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amnesty-received-rs-46...

This highly unsubstantiated claim raised by right wing of India.