Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 1 (PTI) The Centre will not proceed with the proposed amendments to the FCRA without addressing concerns raised by various sections, including Christians, Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday.
He said the BJP’s Kerala unit has requested the Centre not to pass the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) amendment bill at this stage, citing apprehensions among different groups.
“Several people called me and I tried to explain to them. But still they have doubts. So we requested the Centre not to pass the Bill at this time. If there are any such concerns, the Union government will not pass this Bill,” Chandrasekhar told reporters here.
He asserted that the government would move forward with the Bill only after holding discussions and clarifying all doubts.
There is nothing to fear in the Bill as it is being propagated by political opponents, he claimed during the press conference.
Chandrasekhar also accused the Congress, Kerala Congress (M) and other parties of deliberately amplifying the issue ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls to divert attention from development-related discussions.
He said the concerns raised by various church leaderships in the state have been conveyed to the Centre.
“So, we requested the Centre not to pass the Bill. It can be passed after conducting a discussion and clarifying the doubts…And the government accepted it,” Chandrasekhar said, adding that the amendment bill would be passed only after resolving all concerns.
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 LGK KH
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