Indian Government Defends Foreign Funding Regulatory Bill Against Opposition Criticism

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, while speaking in the House today, Wednesday, August 12, strongly criticised the opposition's misleading campaign against the Foreign Funding Regulatory Bill (FCRA). Kiren Rijiju said, "India is not a banana republic and there should be rules and regulations for spending foreign funds." The proposed legislation, aimed at plugging loopholes in the regulation of foreign funding to NGOs and preventing religious conversions, is being criticised by the opposition. The opposition says it is an anti-minority bill. The Lok Sabha referred the FCRA bill to the JPC. The opposition questioned, "How is the RSS getting foreign funds easily." Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha, "None of the provisions of the FCRA amendment bill target minority institutions. The opposition is running a campaign to mislead some communities."