FCRA Bill Religion Neutral, Amit Shah Assures Christian Delegates

NEW DELHI: A delegation of Christian bodies met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday and was assured that the government intends to apply the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, in a religion-neutral manner. The meeting came amid rising concern among minority religious groups over certain provisions of the proposed legislation.

The delegation, comprising representatives of churches and Christian organisations, flagged its apprehensions about the Bill, particularly the clause relating to 'deemed cessation of assets'. Under this provision, any organisation that receives foreign funds without prior permission could see its assets treated as if they were received in contravention of the law. The forum told the Home Minister that this could potentially be misused.

A member of the delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The Home Minister has told us that the government has no intention to harass the Christian community. He reiterated that the FCRA Bill is religion neutral and applies equally to all organisations across the country.”

The Bill, which seeks to amend the existing FCRA, 2010, is expected to be taken up for discussion in Parliament on August 12. The government has maintained that the amendments are aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilisation of foreign funds, particularly in the wake of concerns about money laundering and national security.

Critics argue that the Bill gives the government sweeping powers to regulate the affairs of non-governmental organisations and could be used to stifle dissent. A key contentious provision requires all NGOs receiving foreign funds to open their accounts at a specified branch of the State Bank of India, linking each donation to its source. This, critics say, creates an intrusive monitoring mechanism.

Another significant change is the reduction in the overheads cap from 50% to 20%, which could affect the operational capacity of smaller organisations. The Bill also proposes that public servants, including judges and government officials, would not be allowed to receive foreign funds, a provision that has drawn mixed reactions.

Christian groups, which run numerous schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions across the country, have historically received foreign contributions for their work. The delegation said they were not opposed to transparency but sought to ensure that the law does not hamper their legitimate activities or single out any community.

“We are not seeking any special privilege. We only want that the law should be clear and unambiguous, so that faith-based organisations can function without fear,” said another member of the delegation.

The Home Ministry, in a statement, said the meeting was part of a series of consultations with various stakeholders on the Bill. It reiterated that the government appreciates the role of religious and charitable organisations and any changes to the law are aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework.

Political analysts note that the assurance is significant as it comes at a time when minority groups have expressed anxiety over the Bill's implications. The government's outreach to Christian bodies is seen as an attempt to allay fears and build consensus.

The Bill will be debated in Parliament, where the opposition is likely to raise concerns about its impact on civil liberties and federalism. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which has a majority in the Lok Sabha, is expected to push the Bill through, but the discussion may lead to some modifications.

The delegation, while cautious, welcomed the Home Minister's assurance. “We will study the bill closely once it is presented in Parliament. We hope the government will consider our amendments,” said a representative.

As Parliament reconvenes, the FCRA Bill is set to become another point of contention between the government and the opposition, with the assurance to the Christian bodies likely to be cited by the ruling party as proof of its inclusive approach.