FCRA bill to curb role of foreign funds in politics, says Centre

FCRA bill to curb role of foreign funds in politics, says Centre

- The Times Of India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:24.09.2020

With the opposition continuing its boycott proceedings over suspension of eight MPs, Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, that was earlier passed by Lok Sabha with the government saying the legislation was intended to curb the role of foreign funds in Indian politics.

The bill, which will now be sent to the President for assent, makes furnishing of Aadhaar by office-bearers of NGOs mandatory for registration. In case of a foreigner, a copy of the passport or an Overseas Citizen of India card will be sought. It provides for closer scrutiny of contributions and more stringent conditions for the use of such funds.

Rejecting the view that the law was against NGOs, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said the amendments were essential for national and internal security. “Its main motive is to ensure that foreign funds don’t dominate the political and social discourse of India,” he added. While emphasising that these amendments would ensure transparency, Rai said there were earlier instances where NGOs did not disclose foreign funding and did not furnish proper audit of expenditure.

He quoted former finance minister P Chidambaram, who had told Parliament that “about Rs 20,000 crore funding was received by NGOs but nobody knew where Rs 10,000 crore out of it went”.

The minister said the amendments provided for reduction in administrative expenses of NGOs receiving foreign funding, from 50% to 20% of annual funds to ensure spending on their main objectives.