Foreign funding Bill: Cong for changes

The Congress wants the UPA Government to bring some changes in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Bill, 2006 to address apprehensions of the voluntary sector and minority institutions that their functional autonomy will be interfered with in the guise of regulating foreign funding.

Senior party leaders who met on Wednesday to formulate a stance on the Bill were of the opinion that the Bill was needed to prevent any misuse of foreign funds for anti-national activities. They, however, stressed on 8220;increased safeguards8221; to ensure 8220;transparency and natural justice8221; while taking steps to prevent the misuse of such funds.

The meeting was attended by Pranab Mukherjee, P R Dasmunsi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, H R Bhardwaj, Kapil Sibal, Motilal Vora, Margaret Alva, Mohsina Kidwai and Madhusudan Mistry.

The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the last winter session and was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. The committee has sought views of different political parties.