Centre puts off FCRA Bill as protests erupt in Lok Sabha, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Central Government has deferred the FCRA Amendment Bill in the current Budget Session of the Lok Sabha due to strong opposition protests.
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated the Bill aims to protect national security and prevent misuse of foreign contributions.
• Opposition members, primarily from Kerala, protested against the Bill's provisions, alleging potential misuse.
• A key proposal of the Bill involves establishing a "Designated Authority" to manage foreign funds of NGOs facing suspension or cancellation of registration.

Detailed Insights:

• The FCRA Amendment Bill proposes a "Designated Authority" to handle assets of NGOs whose FCRA registration is suspended or cancelled.
• Concerns arose in Kerala that the Bill could be misused to target minority institutions receiving foreign funds, impacting the BJP's outreach to the Christian community.
• CPI(M) leader John Brittas criticized the government for allegedly blocking information on FCRA-related policy decisions and treating parliamentary questions as secret.
• The government's decision to defer the Bill may be influenced by both opposition protests and concerns from the Kerala unit of the BJP.
• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) regulates the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, and organizations in India.

Key Concepts Involved:

• FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act): An act to regulate the acceptance and usage of foreign contribution or hospitality by certain individuals, associations or companies.
• Designated Authority: A body proposed in the FCRA Amendment Bill to manage foreign funds of NGOs with suspended or cancelled registration.