Washington, April 25 (PTI): Washington has expressed concern at India's crackdown on the Ford Foundation and Greenpeace, particularly relating to their funding of NGOs in the country.

"We are aware that the (Indian) ministry of home affairs suspended the registration of Greenpeace India and has placed the Ford Foundation on a prior permission watch list," state department deputy acting spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters yesterday.

"We remain concerned about the difficulties caused to civil society organisations by the manner in which the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act has been applied."

Harf added: "We are concerned that this recent ruling limits the necessary and critical debate within Indian society and we are seeking a clarification on this issue with the appropriate Indian authorities." India's home ministry has put the Ford Foundation of the US on its watch list on grounds of "national interest and security", ordering that any funds from the foundation to any NGO in India must first receive its clearance.