Amnesty International has said following a report by a global money laundering watchdog that India must stop its "witch hunt" against civil society groups under the pretext of tackling money laundering or terrorism financing.

Rights organizations and news outlets have long complained of harassment under Narendra Modi's Hindu-Nationalist Administration.

In the last decade, India has cancelled the licences of thousands of non-governmental organisations using the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

Critics say Modi's Government has sought to pressure rights groups by heavily scrutinizing their finances and clamping down on foreign funding.

Amnesty said the Paris-based financial action task force had rapped the Indian Government for its "partial compliance" with measures to protect civil society activities in its report.

According to a statement by Amnesty International India chair "the Indian Government must take seriously the priority actions recommended by the FATF report.... To stop the witch-hunt under India’s anti-terror and money-laundering laws of non-profit organizations, human rights defenders and activists,"

Journalists critical of the Government also complain of increased harassment, both on social media -- where Modi's ruling party has a powerful presence -- and in person.