India hits back at criticism over curbs on US charity

INDIA ON Thursday reacted sharply to concerns expressed by top US lawmakers over the al- leged curbs imposed by the gov- ernment on a Christian NGO, saying it is based on “limited un- derstanding of India, its society, Constitution and laws”, and asserted that it welcomes lawful operation of foreign NGOS.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India’s credentials as a vibrant democracy and pluralistic society with a strong civil society are well-known and need no reiteration. He emphasised that the government is 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”.

“Ourattentionhasbeendrawn to a recent Congressional hearing in the US regarding placing of an American NGO in the Prior Referencecategorybyministryof Homeaffairs.thehearingappears to be based on limited understanding of India, its society, Constitution and laws,” he said.

“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,” he said.

Top American lawmakers had on Wednesday expressed concern over the alleged curbs imposed by India on Compassion International, a Christian charity organisation, whose representatives appeared before a Congressional hearing seeking change in New Delhi’s policies related to foreign funding of NGOS.

Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Relations Committee, joined by some other lawmakers had rued that the recent effort to regulate foreign funding and enforce taxation laws had made it impossible for them to carry out work in India.