BJP questions existence of 16k NGOs in J&K, seeks probe into funds

Srinagar: BJP on Wednesday claimed there are nearly 16,000 NGOs operating in J&K, and alleged that many of them are involved in terror-related activities and receive foreign funding.

“Why does a small place like J&K have so many NGOs? How do these NGOs come up? Who allowed them to operate in J&K? And why have they not been scanned so far,” party spokesperson Altaf Thakur said at a press conference here. “If you have to bury terrorism in J&K, first of all you have to take action against the NGOs funding terrorism,” he added.

Thakur said on the Bharat portal, only 239 NGOs are registered.

However, he did not disclose which govt department provided BJP the information that nearly 16,000 NGOs are operating in J&K and their activities are not in accordance with the law.

He claimed the party has “credible inputs” that most of the NGOs receive funds from foreign countries, including Germany, Japan, the UAE and other Gulf nations, and Pakistan. He also claimed to have “proof” that some NGOs are involved in terror funding, but did not name any of them.

Thakur asked govt to scrutinise the sources and utilisation of funds by these NGOs, trusts and societies.