Amit Shah Calls FCRA Registration To Golden Temple "Path-Breaking". Foreign Donations Allowed First Time Since 1984

Golden temple in Amritsar, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, will now be able to receive donations in a dedicated account of the Golden Temple from foreign-based followers of Sikhism.

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New Delhi: As the government approved foreign funds to be used by Golden Temple in Amritsar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the move as a pathbreaking decision which will once again showcase the outstanding spirit of service of the Sikh community. The Home Ministry has approved the registration of Sri Harmandir Sahib under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which makes it eligible to receive foreign funding. Also Read: NEP 2020 Will Lead 21st Century India To A New Direction, Says PM Modi During Shiksha Parv Conclave | 8 Key Highlights “The decision on FCRA at the Sri Harmandir Sahib is a pathbreaking one which will once again showcase the outstanding spirit of service of our Sikh sisters and brothers,” Shah tweeted. Shah also added that Prime Minister Narendra Mod is blessed that ‘Wahe Guru ji’ has taken ‘Seva’ from him.

“Sri Darbar Sahib’s divinity gives strength to us. For decades, the Sangat worldwide was unable to serve there. Modi Government’s decision to allow FCRA to the Sri Harmandir Sahib deepens the connect of Seva between the Sangat globally and the Sri Darbar Sahib. A blessed moment!” he said. Foreign funding for the Golden Temple had been disallowed after Operation Blue Star in 1984. The SGPC had requested the central governments in the past to allow overseas funding to the Sikh temple. What is FCRA registration? The FCRA registration has been given in the name of the ‘Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Saheb Sri Darbar Saheb Punjab Association’, a body set up in 1925.  As per the national daily, Times of India, it is almost after three and a half decades, foreign-based followers of Sikhism will now be able to offer donations or ‘daswandh’  (one tenth of income) directly in a dedicated account of the Golden Temple after the approval for the Sri Harmandir Sahib under Foreign Contribution Religious Act, (FCRA) 2010 . According to the legal definition, the FCRA, 2010 is a national security legislation enacted to ensure the internal security of the country is not adversely affected by unregulated foreign donations. The funding will be used in maintaining the shrine as well as all the other social and educational activities undertaken by the shrine administration. Typically it is mandatory for association, non-government organisation (NGO) or registered society to get FCRA registration to be able to receive foreign donations for specified purposes. In the case of Golden Temple, the contribution will be used for shrine activities besides providing financial assistance to the poor, medical assistance to the needy and organise langars (free community kitchens). The Golden Temple management had applied for FCRA registration on May 27 following which the approval has been given on September 9. The FCRA registration will be valid for a period of five years, as per the report. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also took to the micro-blogging site to express happiness.

On this move, the Union Food Processing Minister and Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal also thanked Shah for granting the FCRA registration to the Golden temple. “Happy to share that MHA has granted approval under FCRA to Sri Harmandir Sahib. This will enable the shrine to receive ‘sewa’ from all over the world & go a long way in propagating Gurusahab’s philosophy of ‘sarbat da bhala’. I’m grateful to @AmitShah Ji for making this possible,” she tweeted on Wednesday. (With inputs from PTI)