Amid row with BJP govt in UP, Union Home Ministry grants FCRA to Banke Bihari
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The Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, found itself in bewilderment upon learning that the Union Home Ministry had granted it registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010—a mandatory requirement to receive foreign donations for religious activities—without reportedly applying for the registration.
The temple, owned and managed by a hereditary community of Sevayat Goswami priests, is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the BJP-led State government over control of its affairs and funds, with the management committee including nominees from the government, The Hindu reported.
The temple, built over 550 years ago by Swami Haridas, reportedly has funds amounting to ₹480 crore, apart from significant gold and other valuables. The FCRA registration, granted under the "Religious (Hindu)" category, is mandatory for non-governmental organisations and associations to receive foreign contributions.
Despite this, members of the priest community have expressed suspicion over the application for FCRA registration, stating they had not sought it and questioning the management committee formed by the Civil Judge, Junior Division, which oversees the temple’s administration.
The temple receives funding through various channels, including direct donations to priests, digital payments, and contributions deposited in temple donation boxes. Concerns have been raised about potential misuse of the FCRA licence, with some alleging that it could lead to illegal activities targeting the temple or its reputation.
This development has added to existing tensions between the Goswami community and the State government, which has proposed constructing a corridor around the temple to improve crowd management and facilitate better access for devotees.
The corridor proposal emerged after a tragic incident during Janmashtami in 2022, where overcrowding led to the suffocation deaths of two devotees. While the Allahabad High Court has allowed the government to proceed with the corridor project, it has also directed the State not to interfere with the temple's affairs or its substantial funds, keeping the matter sub judice.
Data from 2022 indicates that 184 NGOs were granted FCRA registration for religious activities, with 84 under the "Religious (Hindu)" category. This broader context has further intensified suspicions among the temple’s priests, who fear that the FCRA registration might bring additional controversies to a temple already entangled in legal and administrative disputes.