Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 The BJP's efforts to court Christian voters in Kerala have been set back by opposition from church leaders to the proposed amendments to the FCRA.
With the assembly elections approaching, the opposition Congress and the ruling CPI(M) have seized on the issue, labeling the Centre's Bill as "anti-Christian" and demanding its immediate withdrawal.
Church leaders have expressed concern that tighter regulations on foreign funding would disproportionately affect charitable institutions run by the Church.
However, BJP leaders said the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act are not aimed at minorities but at curbing illegal funding.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also expressed concern over certain provisions in the proposed Bill and has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention.
In the letter, Vijayan noted that a perusal of the Bill's clauses indicates that authorities have been granted powers to take over assets even for technical violations.
"The apprehension is that granting such sweeping powers to authorities could lead to arbitrary exercise, and such concerns cannot be dismissed as baseless," he said.
The chief minister pointed out that the existing law already provides sufficient powers to deal with misuse by entities permitted to receive foreign contributions.
He further said the amendment proposes enabling the takeover of assets, including places of worship and charitable organisations, even in cases involving technical issues such as violations of time limits.
BJP state vice-president Shone George on Monday said concerns over the FCRA amendment Bill are "baseless" and asserted that the proposed changes are aimed only at regulating foreign funds received by NGOs.
George, who is contesting from the Pala constituency, said Christian churches and institutions have no reason to worry as their accounts and financial dealings are transparent.
"Only those organisations and accounts involved in irregularities need to be concerned," he said.
He alleged that funds for anti-national activities are being routed into the country through certain NGOs and said the law is intended to regulate such entities.
Accusing the Congress and Left parties of "spreading misinformation", he said they were trying to create unnecessary fear among minorities.
Meanwhile, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, expressed concern over the proposed amendments, saying they could adversely affect Church institutions.
Speaking to reporters, he said funds received from abroad are contributions from Church members working overseas and not from foreign organisations.
"Even restricting such funds raises serious concerns. The possibility of institutions built using foreign contributions being taken over is worrying, and the Bill should be reconsidered," he said.
He added that while the government maintains that both majority and minority organisations receive foreign funds, the proposed changes are causing distress to Church institutions.
"When funds are blocked, the Church's charitable and mission activities will be affected. This is not an appropriate step," he said.
He also alleged that some of its FCRA accounts have been blocked without clear reasons and that repeated requests to resolve the issue have not yielded results.
Earlier in the day, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal alleged that the FCRA amendment Bill targets minority communities and charitable organisations.
Speaking at a press conference, he said the Bill was "hanging over minorities like a sword of Damocles" and claimed it was aimed at bringing Christian communities under control.
He alleged that the proposed amendments would restrict charitable organisations and allow greater central intervention, including provisions to take over organisations by appointing administrators.
Calling the Bill "draconian", Venugopal demanded its withdrawal and said the Congress would oppose it both inside and outside Parliament, adding that the issue has wider national implications.
Syro-Malabar Church Archbishop Andrews Thazhath said the proposed FCRA amendments would affect not only Christian organisations but all charitable institutions.
He said Christian churches have been receiving foreign funds for decades, which have been used to establish schools and orphanages, assist the poor and construct churches.
"Now, FCRA licences of a large number of organisations, many of them Christian, have been cancelled. As per the new provisions, if an FCRA licence is cancelled, not renewed or suspended, the properties of such organisations could be attached. This is a matter of concern for all of us," he said.
He added that Christian organisations are worried as many institutions were established using funds from abroad.
"Experts have told us that the Bill is against the Constitution, the secular values of the country and the rights of the people," he said.