U.S. Congressman Riley Moore said a proposed amendment to India’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act could target Christians and damage bilateral relations.
The dispute centers on the balance between national security and religious freedom. If the amendment passes, critics argue it could grant the Indian government unprecedented control over religious charities, and churches that rely on international funding.
Rep. Moore said the legislation is not merely an administrative update but a targeted move against specific religious groups. "This bill is an attack on Christians and could enable the Indian government to control churches and religious charities," Moore said [1].
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, governs how non-governmental organizations in India receive and utilize funds from foreign sources. The proposed amendments seek to modify how these funds are monitored and reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Indian officials have rejected the notion that the bill is designed to persecute religious minorities. They said the legislation is a matter of national sovereignty and administrative transparency.
"The amendments are meant to strengthen oversight of foreign‑funded organisations and protect national interests," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs said [2].
The tension arises as the U.S. and India attempt to deepen strategic ties in technology and defense while facing friction over internal human rights and religious liberty issues. Moore said the perceived targeting of religious institutions could create diplomatic headwinds between Washington and New Delhi.
While the Indian government describes the changes as a necessary step to prevent foreign interference in domestic affairs, Moore and other critics view the move as a threat to the independence of faith-based organizations [3].
“"This bill is an attack on Christians and could enable the Indian government to control churches and religious charities."”
This clash highlights a recurring friction point in India-US relations: the tension between India's insistence on domestic sovereignty and US congressional oversight of human rights. By framing the FCRA amendments as a religious liberty issue, Rep. Moore is signaling that legislative support for India's strategic goals in Washington may be contingent on how New Delhi treats minority populations and non-governmental organizations.
