Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern that the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act by the Centre has generated apprehensions among minority communities and religious institutions. In his letter, he urged Mr. Modi to reconsider the Centre’s position and to withdraw the proposed amendment.
Also Read | FCRA amendment bill to introduce a new authority to manage assets of NGOs that lose licence
The proposed amendment has kicked up a storm in Kerala with both the CPI(M) and the Congress-led Opposition in Kerala crying foul that the Bill was an attack on the minorities. The parties alleged that the Centre, through the new amendments, was bidding to have sweeping control over NGOs and religious institutions.
One of the proposed amendments state that if an NGO’s FCRA licence is cancelled or not renewed, the assets created using those funds will go to a designated authority appointed by the Centre. Through another provision, the government can permanently take over the assets if the registration of the NGO is not restored. Even assets which have been created through partial foreign contribution would be taken over if the NGO loses the FCRA licence.
