The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has denied issuing any order to stop Greenpeace’s senior campaigner Priya Pillai from leaving the country.
“No such order restraining her movement has been issued by the Foreigners’ division of the MHA. It appears that the decision may have been made by the intelligence agencies on national security considerations,” government sources told The Hindu on Monday. Senior officials in the Home Ministry said a report on the issue will be sought from the authorities concerned.
Ms. Pillai has written another letter to the MHA and other authorities, demanding an explanation. She was to brief British MPs on January 14 on forest communities affected by coal mining projects. But despite having a valid U.K. visa, she was stopped from boarding a flight to London on Sunday.
Greenpeace India has written to the Ministries of Home and External Affairs and to the Airports Authority of India.
