US lawmakers voice concerns over proposed changes to India's FCRA: Report

Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties came together to oppose the proposed changes to India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), arguing that they could adversely affect civil society groups.

US Senator James Risch, who heads the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the proposed amendments “deeply concerning” while speaking to the Hindustan Times. Members of the Democratic Party told the Indian news outlet anonymously that they have also raised concerns over the changes, preventing access to foreign funds and having the assets of Christian organisations seized.

“India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act imposes onerous and opaque constraints on non-governmental organisations and groups that receive foreign funding, making their daily operations nearly impossible. Any efforts to use FCRA as an excuse to expand persecution or harassment of U.S.-linked Christian ministries by seizing their funds or property would be deeply concerning,” Senator Risch told Hindustan Times.

“President Trump has made protecting Americans and promoting religious freedom a priority for his administration, and the U.S. will not hesitate to call out countries who violate the internationally recognised human rights of Christians and other religious groups around the world,” the American lawmaker from the state of Idaho furthered.

Even Democrats are not happy

Meanwhile, members of the Democratic Party also voiced similar concerns over the proposed amendment. “On a bipartisan basis, Congress has raised concerns about the potential impact the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act could have on civil society. A significant expansion, particularly granting authorities sweeping power to seize the assets of organisations that lose their FCRA licenses, would raise serious questions,” one Democratic Party congressional aide, who asked to remain anonymous, told HT.

“Our shared democratic principles and strong people-to-people ties are key elements of the U.S.-India partnership, and a vibrant civil society supports both,” the aide furthered.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers noted that the people on Capitol Hill raised the issue privately. However, they noted that the Indian diplomats have made it clear that the proposed amendments will not have an undue impact on legal and legitimate organisations that receive foreign funds in India.

It is pertinent to note that the proposed changes were pushed in the Lok Sabha in March this year. Under the 2020 version of the Act, the Indian government may cancel the FCRA license of a particular entity and vest the assets of the entity and the foreign contribution with a specified authority.

However, both Muslim and Christian groups operating in the country have raised concerns about the proposed amendments. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has warned that the changes could lead to excessive interference in the operation of minority institutions in the country.

These concerns have found resonance with US-based Christian groups, which have raised the issue in the press and on Capitol Hill with elected representatives. In light of this, several American lawmakers are now pushing India to look into the matter.