Now Reading: India rejects US lawmaker’s criticism of FCRA Bill as internal matter
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India rejects US lawmaker’s criticism of FCRA Bill as internal matter
India has dismissed US Congressman Riley Moore's criticism of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026, as an internal matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on August 7 that Parliament decides…
The Story in Brief
India has dismissed US Congressman Riley Moore's criticism of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026, as an internal matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on August 7 that Parliament decides India's legislative affairs and noted that nations including the US also regulate foreign funds.
Moore had alleged that the Bill would allow the government to take over churches and Christian charities, calling it a 'clear attack against Christians'. The Bill, introduced in March 2026, proposes a government-appointed designated authority to take over assets if FCRA registration is cancelled or lapses. The government says it is religion-neutral and aims at transparency. Over 14,400 organisations currently hold active FCRA certificates.
The Indian Opinion
The Congressman's claim that the FCRA Bill targets Christians is a misreading. The same law applies to all foreign-funded organisations, and many democracies, including the US, restrict foreign money. The real concern is the proposed 'designated authority' with power to seize assets on a registration lapse. That needs clearer safeguards, not religious labels. Will the government list specific conditions for asset takeover before the Bill is passed?
Sources (3): thehindu.com, thehindubusinessline.com, thefederal.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
