First major test of nerves for Amit Shah post-Jantar Mantar protest.
Notwithstanding the fact that several western democracies have such laws back home; the western lobby and media are going gaga against such a legislation in India.
New Delhi is arguing that the proposed FCRA amendments should be viewed by western countries in this broader global context.
All eyes are on Amit Shah-headed Home Ministry in India. This ministry is set to pilot the FCRA Amendment Bill. To put it mildly, the row over this bill would have been unwarranted in normal circumstances.
But the western lobbies and Sickular ecosystem in India are all set to make India "an exception" and trigger the controversies.
"Christians elders and children take selfies with a man dressed as Santa Claus on Christmas Day Amritsar, in 2020.
Essentially, the bill seeks to strengthen oversight of assets created through foreign contributions by creating a designated authority to manage such assets if an organisation's FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or not renewed.
The Centre says the amendments are aimed at closing legal gaps, improving accountability, and safeguarding national security, not targeting any specific community or organisation.
The 'foreign funding' is a big row in India and especially in states such as Punjab and other states in the east and central India where the money is allegedly used for 'conversion' to Christians.
Take a pause and we know -- "concerns" over foreign interference in many countries including the west have "reshaped" policymaking across advanced democracies.
In the last decade or so, allegations of "election meddling" and influence campaigns, cyber operations, and covert lobbying have prompted authorities Australia, the United Kingdom, the US and many countries in Europe to tighten legal frameworks protecting national sovereignty.
Of course, the laws differ in design but they share a common objective.
Everyone wants the 'risks' to be minimised.
Minority institutions, churches, and human rights groups argue the broad provisions let the state arbitrarily choke funding and target independent voices under national security pretexts.
Several Opposition parties and regional state governments view the centralization of power as an assault on India's federal framework. The Congress has also opposed it with Rahul Gandhi stating the Modi Govt wants only RSS to get foreign funding.
On a number of occasions Indian Christians have been told in as many words by RSS leaders and others to mind their own business and stop converting people from other religions to their faith.
“Respect all, follow your own [religion], there is no need of violence, no need of conversion,” senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, who heads RSS Christian Manch, had made the remarks in Delhi at a pre-Christmas gathering a few years ago.
The UK has introduced the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme under its National Security Act. The United States continues to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The Modi government had introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session, but it did not come up for consideration and passage, ostensibly due to opposition from certain quarters in Kerala.
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The bill seeks to vest in the government the power to strip the NGOs of their assets if they fail to comply with FCRA registration requirements. The 2020 amendment to the law imposed a fixed 25 per cent cap on the use of foreign contributions for administrative expenses, down from the earlier 50 per cent.
"We don't want a Law that allows funds from abroad meant for AIDS and leprosy patients be diverted for organising anti-CAA protest," said a BJP leader in northeast India.
The fresh amendment proposal seeks to tighten the government's control
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