Nagpur, Aug 10 (PTI) Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Monday alleged the sole purpose of the FCRA Amendment Bill is to stop funding to NGOs, scuttle the philanthropy movement, and target a particular religion.
Questioning the logic behind the bill, he said philanthropic activity is very important to support good work, noting that several people receive help from foreign countries. He said many wealthy people donate money so that something good can happen in the world, and there was nothing wrong with NGOs receiving such funds as long as appropriate checks and balances were in place.
“If nothing wrong is happening, let it continue. But to change the entire law by saying that these people are promoting conversions, and that this bill has been introduced to target a particular community, is wrong,” Chavan told reporters.
Chavan further said the NGO movement was important worldwide and should be encouraged.
“You can certainly formulate rules and ensure that wrong things do not take place, but you should promote it. Instead, you are strangling it. The only intention of the FCRA Bill is to target a particular religion and prevent the rest of the NGO movement from growing,” he alleged.
When asked about Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement that the FCRA Amendment Bill was necessary to curb anti-national activities by some organisations, Chavan said the government already had laws to prosecute organisations if there was proof of wrongdoing.
“The government has laws to prosecute if it has proof that any organisation is doing wrong things. But you are breaking the entire system; you want to finish the NGO sector,” he said.
In June this year, the government notified amended FCRA rules for receiving foreign funds, requiring non-governmental organisations to choose from a predefined list of purposes and areas of operation. While allowing a range of faith-based activities, the rules explicitly excluded proselytisation from several categories eligible for registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
Christian organisations, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), have appealed to the Union government to roll back the proposed legislation and the newly introduced rules.
Asked about the proposed delimitation bill, Chavan said the opposition was primarily to any change in the existing ratio and warned that the federal balance should not be disturbed.
Chavan said he personally opposed the proposal to increase the number of members of Parliament.
“In a 550-member Parliament, nobody gets a chance to speak. Now, if they make it 850, then what will happen? That is a separate matter,” he said.
Pointing out that since the Delimitation Bill is a constitutional amendment, it requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament for its passage, and accused the BJP of trying to obtain a two-thirds majority in the name of delimitation, “Their grand plan to move in the direction of a Hindu Rashtra and to bring back Manusmriti. They want a free rein,” he alleged.
Chavan claimed some sections within the BJP are not confident in winning the elections in 2029, adding that doubts are being raised in the saffron party on whether the victory is possible under Narendra Modi’s leadership. PTI CLS NSK
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