State Government Writes to Prime Minister, Urging Withdrawal from FCRA Amendment

Thiruvananthapuram: The Chief Minister has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the central government to withdraw from moving forward with the amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The letter points out that some provisions in the bill to amend the FCRA have raised significant concerns among minority communities and religious organisations across the country.

Under the existing FCRA, if an application for renewal of permission is rejected or not renewed within the stipulated time, the registration certificate is considered canceled. The new draft bill proposes that in such cases, foreign donations and assets would come under the control of an authority determined by the central government.

This new provision leads to a situation where even minor technical delays in granting permission or submitting an application could result in the temporary takeover of assets by the central government. If the registration cannot be renewed within the specified time frame, the concerned assets would be seized.

The amendment, as currently proposed, creates a scenario where technical issues alone could lead to the cancellation of registration and the takeover of assets. In light of the ongoing attacks on religious minority institutions in various parts of the country, the concerns raised by minority communities are valid and serious.

The Chief Minister has requested that the bill be reconsidered and that the concerns of minority groups, among others, be addressed before any further action is taken on the bill.