'Internal matter': MEA dismisses US lawmaker's criticism of FCRA Bill
Ministry of external affairs rejected criticism of its foreign funding law. The ministry stated that legislative matters are internal decisions for Parliament. Several countries, including the United States, also regulate foreign financing. A US Congressman criticized proposed amendments to India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. He warned these changes could affect India-US bilateral…
The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed criticism from a US lawmaker regarding India's foreign funding law, asserting that the matter is an internal issue for Parliament to decide. During a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that several countries, including the US, regulate foreign funds. Jaiswal emphasized that legislative matters, particularly those concerning India's own legislation, are internal and under Parliament's jurisdiction.
The criticism emerged after US Congressman Riley Moore alleged that proposed amendments to India's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) could allow the government to seize control of churches and religious charities. Moore expressed concern that this could negatively impact India-US relations. However, Jaiswal countered that the bill's provisions would preserve the religious character of places of worship and reduce the maximum punishment for violations from five years to one year.
He also highlighted that the bill regulates foreign contributions to NGOs, charitable trusts, educational institutions, religious bodies, and other associations, with 13,520 organizations receiving foreign contributions worth Rs 55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022.
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