Members of both the Democratic and Republican parties on Capitol Hill have begun voicing increasing criticism of proposed changes to India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which they believe could adversely impact civil society groups, including Christian organisations.
Senator James Risch, who heads the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has termed the proposed amendments “deeply concerning” in a statement to HT.
Members of the Democratic Party, speaking to HT anonymously, have also raised concerns about the amendment’s effect on civil society.
“India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act imposes onerous and opaque constraints on non-governmental organizations and groups that receive foreign funding, making their daily operations nearly impossible,” Senator Risch told HT in response to a query.
“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 added.
The proposed amendments have also raised concerns among Muslim and Christian groups, with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India terming the regulations “dangerous” and “alarming”.
US-based Christian groups have raised the issue in the press and on Capitol Hill with elected representatives, with some success.
Last month, Congressman Chris Smith published an Op-ed prior to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India urging the latter to persuade the Indian government to do away with the proposed amendments.
