‘Our Internal Affairs’: India firmly rejected a US Congressman’s comments regarding the proposed Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Amendment Bill of 2026, asserting that the legislation is a domestic matter to be decided by Parliament. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted to the US its own regulations for foreign funding to show that India is not the only country that manages foreign funds through legislation.
‘Our Internal Affair’: Why Did India Reject The US Lawmaker’s Remarks?
The MEA was responding to comments made by US Congressman Riley Moore, who alleged that the proposed amendments could enable the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities. He also warned that the legislation could have implications for India-US relations. Rejecting the criticism, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen the comments on FCRA. Legislative matters concerning India are our internal affairs on which decisions are taken by the Parliament of the country.” He stressed that India’s legislative process is sovereign and not subject to external commentary.
What Did India Say About US Rules On Foreign Funding?
Responding directly to the criticism, the MEA highlighted that regulating foreign funding is a common practice across several countries, including the United States. Jaiswal said, “I would also like to point out that there are several nations, including the United States, which regulate the flow of foreign funds.” The statement was aimed at countering suggestions that India’s proposed FCRA amendments were unusual or inconsistent with international practice.
What Were Riley Moore’s Concerns Over The FCRA Bill?
Republican Congressman Riley Moore, who represents West Virginia, criticised the proposed amendments in a post on X earlier this week. Referring to India’s Christian community, he claimed that the legislation could pave the way for government control over churches and religious charities. Moore described the proposal as a threat to religious freedom and cautioned that it could strain bilateral ties between New Delhi and Washington if enacted. His remarks triggered a swift response from the Indian government, which maintained that Parliament alone will decide on the legislation.
What Is The Proposed FCRA Bill About?
The operations of foreign donations are governed by the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act in India. The new amendments to be proposed in 2026 would aim to enhance the monitoring of foreign donations and their transparency. The government claims that even though there may be political controversy and global coverage, the Bill lies within the ambit of India’s law-making process and should be looked at from a constitutional perspective and not from outside.
