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.

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 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 government 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:

1. We demand the immediate cessation of all coercive action against Harjeet Singh and Sanjay Vashisht, withdrawal of all charges against them.
2. An immediate end to the misuse of regulatory laws and enforcement agencies to intimidate climate activists and civil society.

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 justice.

— National Alliance for Climate and Environmental Justice (NACEJ)

Contact for details: nacej.napm@gmail.com

1. Stella James, Karnataka, Researcher
2. Krithika Dinesh, National Alliance for Justice and Accountability(NAJAR), Delhi
3. Soutrik Goswami, Climate Policy Researcher
4. Abhayraj Naik, Bengaluru / Sri City, Researcher
5. Bhanumathi Kalluri. Hyderabad
6. Apoorv Grover, People for Aravallis, New Delhi
7. Mrinalini, Research Scholar.
8. Abhijit Prabhudesai, Rainbow Warriors
9. Diana Tavares, Rainbow Warriors
10. Xavier Fernandes, Citizens for Coastal Communities
11. Manoj Prabhugaonkar, Citizens Committee of Loliem
12. Pradeep Mokhadkar, Poinguinkarancho Ekvott
13. Naresh Gaude, Scheduled Tribe leader from Mangueshi, Ponda, Goa
14. Antonio D’Silva, Goyant Kollso Naka
15. Prasad Chacko. Social Worker. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
16. Meera Sanghamitra, Volunteer, NAPM (Hyderabad)
17. Abha Jeurkar, Researcher and Educator
18. Bhuvana Balaji, Independent Researcher, Bangalore, Karnataka
19. Adv. Sarthak Tomar, Bhopal, MP
20. Neelam Ahluwalia, Founder Member, People for Aravallis
21. John Michael, National Urban Struggles Forum, NAPM
22. Aravind Unni, National Urban Struggles Forum, NAPM – SHRAM.
23. Amitraj Deshmukh, Volunteer, NACEJ, Pune
24. Yash Agrawal, Navi Mumbai, Fridays For Future Mumbai
25. Ravi S P, Chalakudypuzha Samrakshana Samithi, Kerala
26. NAPM Kerala
27. Rajesh Ramakrishnan, Campaign to Defend Nature and People (CDNP)
28. Sunil M.Caleb, Independent Researcher
29. Meenakshi Kapoor, Researcher,  Palampur
30. Tarini Manchanda, filmmaker
31. Aseem Mishra, Urban Practitioner, Gujarat
32. Chythenyen, Centre for Financial Accountability
33. Lalita Ramdas, Educator and Activist
34. Ramnarayan K, Ecologist, Uttarakhand
35. Rishi, Hasdeo Arany Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Chhattisgarh.
36. Sachethan, Telangana, HRF