Lok Sabha passes bill to amend Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act

PTI, Sep 21, 2020, 8:14 PM IST

New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed a bill on Monday to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act that seeks to make it mandatory for the office-bearers of an NGO to provide their Aadhaar numbers during registration.

Amid concerns raised by various Opposition members about The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the legislation was not against any religion or NGO.

The bill was passed after a debate.

Replying to the debate, Rai asserted the bill will help in curbing misuse of foreign funds and was necessary for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

Among other provisions, the bill proposes to enable the Centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate.

Participating in the debate, Congress MP Anto Antony said an attempt was being made to “suffocate the NGOs” through this bill.

He, however, said action should definitely be taken if an NGO is found involved in anti-national activities. But in some cases, it has been seen that due to technical reasons licences get cancelled “which is an attack on the minority.”

Stating that the amendments to the bill were “ill-conceived,” he made a plea to the government to not be in a hurry with the legislation.

BJP’s Satya Pal Singh said many organisations receiving foreign contributions were not spending the money on the work it was meant for.

He said the money received as foreign contribution cannot be spent on terrorist activities.

Sougata Roy of the Trinamool Congress said there was “no need” for the bill, stressing that when the Supreme Court has said Aadhaar is not compulsory then why is the government making it mandatory for registration of NGOs.

YSRCP’s Bellana Chandra Sekhar supported the bill, saying it is “much needed.”

Shrirang Appa Barne of the Shiv Sena also supported the bill and said that there is a need to come out with a strict law to stop religious conversion.

Kaushalendra Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) said the bill would boost transparency.