Former MP Tarlochan Singh Raises FCRA Concerns, Urges Akal Takht Jathedar to Take Up Issue
||Black and White Digital News||
||Parvinder Singh 14 Aug 2026||
Amritsar: Former Rajya Sabha MP and Sikh leader Tarlochan Singh has written to Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, drawing attention to the proposed changes in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and their possible impact on donations received by Sikh organisations and communities from the Sikh diaspora abroad.
In his letter, Tarlochan Singh said the proposed FCRA Bill seeks to introduce several changes governing the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions in India. He expressed concern that the proposed provisions could have a significant bearing on financial assistance being received from Sikhs living abroad for developmental and welfare-related activities, particularly in villages and other community projects.
Tarlochan Singh recalled that foreign contributions received by various Sikh communities and organisations had already faced restrictions following stringent measures introduced by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs a few years ago. He said the proposed changes could further tighten the regulatory framework and potentially affect the flow of legitimate donations from the Sikh diaspora.
The former MP also referred to the decision of the Government to send the proposed legislation to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), attributing the development to pressure and representations from sections of the Christian community.
He specifically appreciated the efforts of the Council of Bishops and Cardinals, which, according to him, held meetings with senior leaders of the Central Government to raise concerns regarding the proposed legislation. He also pointed to the support extended by Christian Chief Ministers from the northeastern states in this regard.
Expressing concern over the perceived lack of a similar response from the Sikh community, Tarlochan Singh said that there had been no visible collective effort to examine the implications of the proposed FCRA changes from the Sikh perspective.
He further pointed out that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had, so far, not issued any statement on the matter. He urged the Sikh leadership and institutions to carefully study the proposed provisions and assess their possible consequences for Sikh organisations, institutions and developmental initiatives supported by the global Sikh diaspora.
Tarlochan Singh’s communication seeks the intervention and attention of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on what he considers an important issue concerning the Sikh community, its institutions and its relationship with Sikh communities living abroad.
The former MP has emphasised the need for the Sikh leadership to understand the proposed legislative changes in detail and take an appropriate position in the larger interest of the community.
