Kochi, Apr 1 (PTI) The KCBC on Wednesday termed as “excessive and dangerous” the proposed amendments in the FCRA, saying that it would lead to denial of justice to entities which use foreign funds for charitable and philanthropic activities.

Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) deputy secretary general Thomas Tharayil said that the Bishops’ body held a meeting regarding the issue on Tuesday and have communicated their concerns regarding the proposed changes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

He said that there are already strict laws in place since 2010 in connection with foreign contributions and their utilisation and no one in the country can get funds from abroad without the central government or agencies knowing about it.

He further said that following earlier amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), accounts for receiving foreign contributions can be opened only in specified State Bank of India branches in Delhi.

Besides that, all FCRA license holders have to inform the income tax department every year about how the foreign funds have been utilised, he told reporters here.

Additionally, there are already laws in place to deal with any failure to inform the IT department about the utilisation of the foreign funds, he said.

“So, we do not understand the requirement to bring the latest amendments to the FCRA,” he contended.

Tharayil further said that people were asking why only the churches and its leaders reacted to the proposed amendments to the FCRA as they constitute only around 10 per cent of the over 16,000 FCRA licensees in India.

“The reason is that the church is not speaking only for itself. The dangerous and excessive provisions in the amendment bill allow confiscation of assets, procured using foreign and local funds, of the entity whose FCRA license has been frozen or not renewed.

“It is, therefore, a denial of justice. So, we are speaking for everyone not just us,” he said, adding that the changes sought to be made are also “unconstitutional”.

The priest said that no opportunity was given to the public to indicate their views regarding the proposed amendments and since it has been brought in “a hurried manner”, the church has some apprehensions about it.

Though the Bill was listed for consideration in Wednesday’s Lok Sabha agenda, it was not taken up for discussion.

Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the decision was based on legislative priorities and not politics.

The FCRA Amendment Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, seeks to enhance transparency and ensure proper utilisation of foreign funds, while preventing their misuse against national security and interests. PTI HMP KH