End coercive action against climate activists: Regulate major carbon polluters: Not those demanding accountability
napm india
Indian Govt must end coercive action against climate activists!
Regulate major carbon polluters: Not those demanding accountability!
16th January 2026: The National Alliance for Climate and Environmental Justice (NACEJ) strongly condemns the raids, searches, and intimidation of climate activists Harjeet Singh and Sanjay Vashisht by Indian enforcement agencies. We call for immediate cessation of all coercive action against Mr. Harjeet and Mr. Sanjay and withdrawal of all charges against them. We also seek an end to the misuse of regulatory laws and enforcement agencies to intimidate climate justice and civil society activists. The climate crisis requires strong regulation of major polluters, protection of environmental defenders, and open democratic debate - not fear, surveillance, and intimidation of those working for climate and constitutional justice.
Recent actions by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and allied agencies - reportedly based on alleged violations of foreign exchange regulations, vague claims of threats to “energy security,” and unsubstantiated intelligence inputs have been carried out without transparency or disclosure of credible evidence. Public reporting indicates reliance on anonymous official briefings, rumoured intelligence reports, and speculative allegations, with officials unwilling to come on record. These tactics constitute harassment and intimidation and represent a serious violation of constitutional rights, including the freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful advocacy. In a democracy governed by the rule of law, enforcement action cannot be driven by innuendo, political discomfort, or opaque intelligence claims.
The work of Harjeet Singh and Sanjay Vashisht is well-documented in the public domain. Their engagement with climate justice, fossil fuel accountability, and just transition pathways has been transparent, lawful, and rooted in evidence-based advocacy. Their work contributes to strengthening climate action across India and the Global South and aligns with global climate goals, democratic participation, and environmental protection. Peaceful climate advocacy cannot be equated with ‘illegality’ or ‘threats to national interest’. It is amply clear that Harjeet and Sanjay are being punished for blowing the whistle on expansion of fossil fuel use instead of reduction.
NACEJ views these actions as part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of shrinking civic space, where regulatory and investigative mechanisms are used to discourage critical voices, particularly those challenging fossil fuel expansion and environmentally destructive development models. At a time when India faces escalating climate risks, such actions undermine both democratic institutions and effective climate governance. Despite ambitious renewable energy plans, coal remains central to India’s electricity system and is expected to dominate power generation for several more decades.
Although the National Electricity Plan, 2023 projects a decline in coal’s share of capacity and generation, their absolute levels will continue to rise. The Ministry of Power has proposed adding at least 80 GW of new coal-based capacity by 2031–32, while directing utilities not to retire any thermal power plants until 2030. This ongoing dependence on coal imposes severe environmental, social, and health costs, and efforts to challenge it are increasingly being criminalized, with activists facing persecution.
The recent disturbing action is but another step in the series of arbitrary actions taken by this government since it has come to power; constantly vilifying and targeting social movements, civil society groups and dissenting activists critical of disastrous developmental projects, by invoking ‘national security’ and trumped-up security inputs. Numerous public-spirited organizations like Greenpeace, Environics Trust, LIFE, Centre for Policy Research etc. have faced a similar pattern of persecution in the past. Rather than fixing serious environmental crisis emerging in the form of constant flash floods, landslides in the Himalayas and elsewhere, high levels of air pollution choking our cities, land erosion, droughts etc, the Union Govt. has often shot the messenger; civil society organizations and activists, criminalizing their legitimate and bona fide actions.
The actions of the government betray its intention to divert attention from and give a free hand to the major emitters who have been expanding fossil fuel dependency through various mechanisms, including carbon markets. Rather than pursue the polluters and emitters, the Govt. has chosen to criminalize climate activism. The need of the hour is a clear reaffirmation by the state that peaceful climate advocacy and international collaboration for environmental justice are legitimate and protected democratic activities.
Our Demands:
- We demand the immediate cessation of all coercive action against Harjeet Singh and Sanjay Vashisht, withdrawal of all charges against them.
- An immediate end to the misuse of regulatory laws and enforcement agencies to intimidate climate activists and civil society organizations.
NACEJ believes that the deepening climate crisis requires strong regulation of major polluters, protection of environmental defenders, and open democratic debate; not fear, surveillance, and intimidation of those working for climate and constitutional justice and a safer earth.
Endorsed by:
1. Stella James, Researcher, Karnataka
2. Krithika Dinesh, National Alliance for Justice and Accountability (NAJAR), Delhi
3. Soutrik Goswami, Climate Policy Researcher, New Delhi
4. Abhayraj Naik, Researcher Bengaluru / Sri City
5. Bhanumathi Kalluri, Climate and Social Justice Activist, NACEJ Hyderabad
6. Apoorv Grover, People for Aravallis, New Delhi
7. Mrinalini, Research Scholar, Mumbai
8. Abhijit Prabhudesai, Rainbow Warriors, Goa
9. Diana Tavares, Rainbow Warriors, Goa
10. Xavier Fernandes, Citizens for Coastal Communities, Goa
11. Manoj Prabhugaonkar, Citizens Committee of Loliem, Goa
12. Pradeep Mokhadkar, Poinguinkarancho Ekvott, Goa
13. Naresh Gaude, Scheduled Tribe leader from Mangueshi, Ponda, Goa
14. Antonio D'Silva, Goyant Kollso Naka, Goa
15. Prasad Chacko, Social Worker, Gujarat
16. Meera Sanghamitra, NAPM Telangana
17. Abha Jeurkar, Researcher and Educator, UP
18. Bhuvana Balaji, Independent Researcher, Bangalore, Karnataka
19. Adv. Sarthak Tomar, Bhopal, MP
20. Neelam Ahluwalia, Founder Member, People for Aravallis, Gurgaon - NCR
21. John Michael, National Urban Struggles Forum, NAPM, Telangana
22. Aravind Unni, National Urban Struggles Forum, NAPM – SHRAM, Hyderabad
23. Amitraj Deshmukh, Volunteer, NACEJ, Pune
24. Yash Agrawal, Fridays For Future, Mumbai
25. Ravi S P, Chalakudypuzha Samrakshana Samithi, Kerala
26. CR Neelakandan, NAPM Kerala
27. Rajesh Ramakrishnan, Campaign to Defend Nature and People (CDNP), Chennai
28. Sunil M. Caleb, Independent Researcher
29. Meenakshi Kapoor, Researcher, Palampur
30. Tarini Manchanda, Filmmaker, New Delhi
31. Aseem Mishra, Urban Practitioner, Gujarat
32. Chythenyen, Centre for Financial Accountability, Tamil Nadu
33. Lalita Ramdas, Educator and Activist, Maharashtra and Telangana
34. Ramnarayan K, Ecologist, Uttarakhand
35. Rishi, Hasdeo Arany Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Chhattisgarh.
36. Sachethan, Human Rights Forum (HRF), Telangana
37. Soumya Dutta, Climate Justice Activist (NACEJ – NAPM), Delhi NCR
Issued by: National Alliance for Climate and Environmental Justice (NACEJ - NAPM
Contact for details: E-mail: nacej...@gmail.com
NACEJ members across India are grassroots movement activists, ecologists, climate scientists, environmental researchers and lawyers, working to address Climate Crisis, through an Ecological and Social Justice Approach, upholding human rights and co-existence of all species.