FCRA Bill in LS to make Aadhaar mandatory for foreign funding
21 Sep 2020 08:56:19
NEW DELHI ;
It proposes to include “public servants” in the prohibited category and decrease administrative expenses via foreign funds to 20% from 50%
THE Centre on Sunday introduced the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 in the Lok Sabha to make the earlier law more stringent and make Aadhaar mandatory for registration and to give the Government powers to stop utilisation of foreign funds by an organisation through a “summary enquiry”. The Bill, which seeks amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, proposes to include “public servants” in the prohibited category and decrease administrative expenses through foreign funds by an organisation to 20 per cent from 50 per cent earlier.
Moving the Bill on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, his junior and Minister of State of Home Nityanand Rai said this law does not breach the right of any organisation if they follow the law and do not get distracted from their purpose.
“We only take action against any organisation under the rule when they do not follow the law. Where is the breach of their rights in it?.” Citing former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s statement which he made at a time while bringing FCRA law on August 19, 2010, Rai said: “Mr Chidambaram had mentioned in his statement that there are now around 40,000 working organisations. My biggest problem is that half of the organisations do not give details of their foreign contribution.”
Based on the Supreme Court’s judgment on Aadhaar, the minister said “we are making it mandatory for the directors of those organisations so that the Government could know their identity and address. There is no discrimination in the law. All religions are being given equal rights to receive foreign donations in religious activities as per the provisions in earlier law.”
“The law does not discriminate in any religion. Our aim is to ensure that the organisations receiving foreign contribution should not distract from their purpose,” the Minister said.