3. Hungary Repeals Controversial Laws Restricting the Right to were threatened and intimidated through the Association but Concerns Remain (Index: EUR 27/4526/2021), 29 July misuse of over-broad financial laws. On 28 July, multiple offices of the Dainik INDIA Bhaskar group, a Hindi-language news daily, were raided by tax authorities. Dainik Bhaskar had reported on the mass dumping Republic of India of bodies of Covid-19 victims along the river Head of state: Ram Nath Kovind Ganges due to high cremation costs. Head of government: Narendra Modi Between 10 and 16 September, the offices of media outlets NewsClick and Newslaundry, The authorities used repressive laws to as well as the house of actor-philanthropist silence critics by curbing freedom of Sonu Sood and the offices of human rights expression both offline and online. Human activist Harsh Mander, were raided on rights defenders, including activists, alleged charges of tax evasion and diversion journalists, students, lawyers and actors, of funds for “religious conversion”. continued to face intimidation and The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act harassment. Independent investigations (FCRA) was misused by government revealed a massive unlawful surveillance agencies to silence NGOs. In June, the apparatus being used by the government Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the against human rights defenders, violating FCRA licence of the Commonwealth Human their rights to privacy, non-discrimination Rights Initiative, a human rights organization and data protection. The foreign working on access to information and justice. contribution law was misused to crack down The Ministry also cancelled the registration of on human rights NGOs. Police and security 10 international NGOs working on forces used excessive force against environment, climate change and child members of minority communities and labour issues, and placed more than 80 farmers protesting peacefully against laws philanthropic and human rights agencies on on farming. Courts undermined the right to a “Prior Reference Category” list without a fair trial and delayed hearing crucial cases citing any reason. Funds are only disbursed involving violations of human rights. In the to or from the organizations on this list after context of Covid-19, lack of transparency clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, over the distribution of funds increased and seriously curtailing their work. the right to health was undermined. In July the Pegasus Project, an international Significant sectors of the population investigative journalism initiative, exposed the suffered from shortages of hospital beds unlawful and arbitrary surveillance of Indian and oxygen during the second wave of citizens through the government’s alleged use Covid-19 infections. Caste-based of Pegasus spyware. At least 300 telephone discrimination and violence against Dalits numbers of human rights defenders, and Adivasis continued unabated. Vigilante journalists, lawyers, government officials and cow protection groups attacked minority opposition politicians were potentially communities, adversely affecting their compromised. The spyware, as examined by livelihoods. Amnesty International, enabled government FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND agencies to monitor all phone activity, ASSOCIATION including emails, files, contact lists, location information and chat messages. It also Unlawful and politically motivated restrictions enabled governments to secretly record audio were placed on freedom of expression and and video using a phone’s built-in assembly. Outspoken journalists, media microphone and camera. The ruling outlets, actors and human rights activists Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalled all attempts by opposition leaders in parliament Amnesty International Report 2021/22 190