Union Ministry of External Affairs on Friday responded to a US lawmaker's criticism of India's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying it is an internal matter on which the Parliament will take a decision.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed out that several countries in the world, including the United States, regulate foreign funds and financing.
"As far as legislative matters are concerned, and particularly matters relating to India's own legislation, this is an internal matter for us, on which our Parliament takes the decision," said Jaiswal.
This comes after US Congressman Riley Moore remarked that the foreign-funding law is a "clear attack against Christians" and could allow the government to take control of churches and religious charities. He also warned that the proposed law could become a thorn in India-US ties.
"Christians have been in India since St. Thomas the Apostle travelled to the Malabar Coast just decades after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. "But despite this long Christian history, India's Parliament is considering amending Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) rules to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities," Moore said in a post on X.
"If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India," he added.
On Thursday, a delegation of Christian leaders led by DMK's Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to withdraw the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, taking exception to its "confiscatory" nature.
Shah interacted with the delegation for over an hour and assured them that he would look into the grievances.
In another meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday, Shah said the FCRA bill will not come into effect retrospectively. The amendment bill, which was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25, will be discussed in Parliament on August 12.
On July 10, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) submitted a memorandum and urged Shah to withdraw the FCRA bill and the notified rules, stressing that both be redrafted after wider consultation with stakeholders.
