India
oi-Prakash KL
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) are an internal part of India.
He was responding to a remark made by a US lawmaker on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) are an internal legislative matter, responding to US lawmaker Riley Moore’s concerns about potential impacts on religious charities.
At a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen the comments on FCRA. Legislative matters concerning India are our internal affairs on which decisions are taken by the Parliament of the country. I would also like to point out that there are several nations, including the United States, which regulate the flow of foreign funds.”
The MEA response comes after first-term Republican from West Virginia Congressman Riley Moore on Tuesday said the FCRA amendments would allow the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities.
In a post, he said, “Christians have been in India since St. Thomas the Apostle traveled to the Malabar Coast just decades after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But despite this long Christian history, India’s Parliament is considering amending Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) rules to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities.
This is a clear attack against Christians. If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India.”
The FCRA stands for the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. In simple terms, it regulates how organisations in India receive and use foreign money. A designated authority will take over management of foreign contributions.
