Alongside the widespread increase in laws discriminating against the religious freedom of Christians in several states (see en article here), hostile actors are also working to make it more difficult for foreign missionaries to make an impact in India.
Legislators are considering the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill which, if passed, would give the Indian state greater control over the activities of mission organisations, charities and religious institutions and enable them to block funding. The legislation will be decided upon later in the summer.
Funding from abroad can only be received by such bodies if they have a Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence, which exists to regulate foreign contributions. The proposed amendment would give the government power to seize the assets of a body whose licence has been blocked or has expired, as reported by Release International, making it harder for Christian organisations to receive funds from abroad.
The bill has been met with widespread opposition from several religious groups, including evangelicals, Roman Catholics and Muslims. The Evangelical Fellowship of India’s (EFI) General Secretary Vijayesh Lal told Christian Daily International that these proposals are not the right way to ensure greater accountability among religious organisations.
He said: “For us, accountability, transparency, and integrity are not concessions to the State; they are convictions rooted in our faith. At the same time, in a climate like this, concern must be expressed with credibility and restraint.”
