Now Reading: India rejects US criticism of FCRA Bill as internal matter
-
01
India rejects US criticism of FCRA Bill as internal matter
India has rejected criticism from US lawmakers over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it an internal legislative matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that Parliament decides such…
The Story in Brief
India has rejected criticism from US lawmakers over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it an internal legislative matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that Parliament decides such issues and noted the US also regulates foreign funds. Congressman Riley Moore had called the Bill a 'clear attack against Christians', warning it could hurt bilateral ties. Several US lawmakers from both parties echoed the concern.
Introduced in March, the Bill empowers a government-appointed 'designated authority' to take over foreign contributions and assets of organisations whose FCRA registration is cancelled, denied, or lapsed. Under the Bill, the maximum prison term for violations drops from five years to one year. As of July 2026, about 14,450 groups hold active FCRA registration, while over 37,700 registrations have been cancelled or lapsed.
The Indian Opinion
The US Congressman's claim that the FCRA Bill is a 'clear attack against Christians' oversimplifies a law that applies to all foreign-funded organisations, not just religious ones. India's rebuttal is fair, Washington also restricts foreign money in its elections and lobbying. But the government must own up to the Bill's genuine concerns: the 'designated authority' can seize assets without clear judicial oversight, affecting schools and hospitals. A test will be whether the final text includes a right to appeal before any asset takeover.
Sources (4): thehindu.com, thehindubusinessline.com, thefederal.com, telanganatoday.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
