NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rejected the concerns expressed by top US Lawmakers on the alleged restrictions imposed by the Central government on a Christian Charity Organisation as stemming from “limited understanding of India, its society, Constitution, and laws" and contended that lawful operation of foreign NGOs is welcome in the country.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Home Affairs sources say that the Intelligence Bureau sleuths have been tasked to find concrete evidence about prosleytisation charges against 344 NGOs that were funded by the US Donor agency Compassion International. A US Congress Committee had a hearing on Wednesday regarding the cancellation of the FCRA licenses of the 344 NGOs following IB reports about the NGOs being involved in religious conversions.
"Our attention has been drawn to a recent Congressional hearing in the US regarding the placing of an American NGO in the Prior Reference Category by Ministry of Home Affairs. The hearing appears to be based on limited understanding of India, its society, Constitution, and laws. There is a well-established legal framework for NGOs to conduct their operations in India. This is borne out by the presence of over three million NGOs in the country, one of the largest NGO networks in the world. India welcomes lawful operation of foreign NGOs in India,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here.
The 344 NGOs who were beneficiary of funding from Compassion International were put on prior permission category. And against the outlay of Rs. 292 crore in 2015, Compassion International was allowed just Rs. 2 crore funding.
The Compassion International, often accused of proselytisation, has accused that the Indian government's measures to regulate foreign funding has impeded its work among poor children in India.
Swarup contended that India’s credentials as “a vibrant democracy and pluralistic society with a strong civil society” do not need reiteration. He added that the government was “committed to the Constitutional principles which underpin the nation of 1.25 billion people as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with an abiding commitment to inclusion and tolerance".
"Government of India looks forward to continuing to work with the US Congress and Administration to foster mutual understanding and deepen India-US bilateral relations," he added.
With inputs from Rakesh K. Singh