India's Ministry of External Affairs has responded firmly to recent comments from US lawmakers regarding proposed changes to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made it clear that matters related to Indian legislation fall strictly within the domain of domestic sovereignty, where decisions are made exclusively by the Parliament of India.
Sovereignty and International Regulations on Foreign Funding
Addressing questions raised by American politicians regarding the proposed FCRA amendments, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the government has observed the comments circulating on the subject. Emphasizing national jurisdiction, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Legislative matters related to India are our internal affairs, on which the Parliament of India takes decisions."
Furthermore, Jaiswal pointed out that regulating foreign financial inflows is not unique to India. He emphasized that several sovereign nations around the globe, including the United States itself, enforce regulatory mechanisms to oversee and control the movement of foreign funds into their domestic jurisdictions.
Statements by US Lawmaker Riley M. Moore
The response from New Delhi follows public comments made on social media platform X by US Lawmaker Riley M. Moore. In his post, Moore referenced the deep historical roots of Christianity in the region, noting that St. Thomas the Apostle arrived on the Malabar coast merely a few decades after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He asserted that despite this long-standing presence, proposed modifications to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment rules would enable the government to take control of local churches and religious charitable institutions.
Labeling the legislative measure as "a direct attack on Christians," the American politician cautioned that if the bill continues along its current trajectory without modification, it could emerge as a major area of concern within bilateral relations between the United States and India.
