WITHDRAWAL OF FCRA AMENDMENT BILL DEMANDED: PRIYANKA GANDHI

WITHDRAWAL OF FCRA AMENDMENT BILL DEMANDED: PRIYANKA GANDHI

13-AUG-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI----------------------------Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra targeted the central government on Wednesday, demanding the withdrawal of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill, 2026. She stated that the Congress holds a clear position that the bill should be withdrawn. Meanwhile, the central government moved a proposal in the Lok Sabha to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny and deliberation; this proposal was accepted for further parliamentary procedure.

Speaking to reporters in the capital, Priyanka Gandhi stated that her party does not support the bill in its current form and is demanding its withdrawal. She reiterated that the Congress's stance is unequivocal: the FCRA Amendment Bill must be withdrawn. The opposition has been consistently raising objections to the bill, viewing it in the context of its potential impact on the functioning of civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and minority institutions.

Amidst this, the central government moved a motion in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Union Minister Nityanand Rai tabled the motion after the House proceedings resumed. According to the proposal, the committee will comprise a total of 31 members—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The members will be nominated by the presiding officers of both Houses.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed study and scrutiny of the FCRA Amendment Bill's provisions and submitting its report to Parliament. The committee has been asked to submit its report by the last day of the first week of the 2026 Winter Session. A quorum for the committee's meetings has been set at one-third of the total membership.

Despite this move by the government, the opposition has persisted in demanding the bill's withdrawal. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal also called for the bill to be withdrawn, while Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav supported the opposition's objections. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the opposition to welcome the government's decision to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). He stated that there is nothing in the bill that targets minority institutions.

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also opposed the FCRA Amendment Bill on Wednesday. He argued that the bill should not have been introduced in the first place. He contended that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have done significant work in the fields of education and other social services in many tribal and economically backward regions of the country. He specifically highlighted the work undertaken by voluntary organizations and missionary institutions in areas such as Jharkhand and the Dang region of Gujarat.

Ram Gopal Yadav stated that imposing restrictions or additional controls on such organizations could adversely affect the poor people and children who rely on these institutions for education and other amenities. He expressed concern that any impact on the functioning of NGOs could harm the weaker sections of society.

The FCRA regulates the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions by individuals, associations, and organizations in the country. The objective of the law is to ensure that funds received from abroad are used solely for designated purposes. The government has periodically amended the rules governing foreign contributions, citing the need to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25. Since then, differences of opinion have emerged among political parties regarding various provisions of the bill. Opposition parties have expressed concern about the potential impact on civil society organizations and minority institutions. Dismissing these apprehensions, the government has stated that the bill aims to strengthen the regulation of foreign contributions.

Meanwhile, the amended FCRA Rules, 2026, were notified on June 22 and have already come into effect. The decision to refer the FCRA Amendment Bill to the JPC has now paved the way for a detailed parliamentary discussion on its provisions. The committee can examine the arguments put forward by both the opposition and the government, as well as the various provisions of the bill. While the government's decision to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is being viewed as a move towards comprehensive deliberation, the Congress and other opposition parties remain adamant in their demand for its withdrawal. Consequently, the political standoff between the government and the opposition over the bill shows no immediate signs of ending.

The JPC's scrutiny and its subsequent report will now play a crucial role in determining the future course of the bill. The committee is expected to hold detailed discussions on the bill's provisions, the regulation of foreign contributions, the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and potential social impacts. A decision regarding the bill's future in Parliament will be taken thereafter. At present, opposition parties—including Priyanka Gandhi—are demanding its withdrawal, whereas the government has moved it forward for detailed examination by the JPC.