FCRA 'Framing of laws a sovereign prerogative': India's reply on FCRA
New Delhi/IBNS: India on Tuesday issued a firm response to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachellete's remarks questioning India's new FCRA regulations.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Tuesday said: “We have seen some comments by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on an issue relating to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). India is a democratic polity based on the rule of law and an independent judiciary. The framing of laws is obviously a sovereign prerogative. Violations of law, however, cannot be condoned under the pretext of human rights. A more informed view of the matter was expected of a UN body.”
Read our statement on comments by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on an issue related to Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). pic.twitter.com/uPsMhktzJt
— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) October 20, 2020
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachellete had called on India over the new FCRA, which prohibits receipts of funds "for any activities prejudicial to the public interest."
She expressed regret at the legal constraints the new law, which a number UN human rights bodies have said is "overbroad in its objective" and "vaguely worded", put on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Human Rights organisations.
