Parliament monsoon session 2020: Lok Sabha passes FCRA Bill

The lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha has cleared The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020.  

New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020. The Bill seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

On September 20, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. According to reports, this Act regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by individuals, companies and associates.

Nithyanand Rai, minister of state for home said that the FCRA bill will stop the misuse of money. He added that “the government had brought the FCRA bill in 2010, we were in opposition but supported it and this amendment is not against NGOs and not an attack on any religion”.

Rai added that this bill will not stop foreign contributions and that FCRA is a national and internal security law. He also said that this amendment is essential for Atmanirbar Bharat.

Taking a dig at the opposition, Rai also said that the opposition does not want to stop misuse of foreign money.  

On queries about Aadhaar card by MPs, Rai said the Supreme Court clearly said it's not mandatory to make Aadhaar Card a means to identify oneself everywhere. But it can be made mandatory by bringing a law, if important, hence the amendment, Rai stated.

"If a director or manager of an organisation wants to hide their identity and can't disclose their address, what work will they do? It casts suspicion on their intention. Why is the Aadhaar Card being opposed? The Aadhar Card is a significant proof of identification," he added.