New Delhi, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) were aimed at targeting minorities and accused the NDA government of bringing the legislation to serve its own interests.
Speaking to reporters, Yadav questioned the need for the proposed amendments and also criticised the government over the condition of infrastructure projects.
“Why do they want to bring the FCRA amendments? Is it only to suppress minorities? Is it only to serve their own interests?” he asked.
Yadav also took a swipe at the government over infrastructure and aviation-related issues.
“You are building airports, yet they get flooded with water. You are constructing expressways, yet there are potholes. What are you doing?” he said.
Drawing a parallel between the functioning of the aviation sector and governance, Yadav said, “Hume plane chalane walon aur pradesh chalane walon mein samanta dikhai de rahi hai.”
Other Opposition leaders also voiced reservations over the proposed FCRA changes.
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said legislation should be introduced only when there is clarity about its purpose and implementation.
“If the government’s intention is not right, then there is no point in passing such a Bill. There are many laws that have been passed but are not being implemented properly and remain ineffective in practice,” he said.
SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav questioned the need for the amendments, arguing that voluntary organisations, religious groups, missionaries and NGOs have played a significant role in providing education, healthcare and welfare services, particularly in tribal areas.
“There was no need to bring this Bill in the first place,” he said, citing the work undertaken by such organisations in Jharkhand, Gujarat’s Dang region and other tribal areas.
He claimed that restricting these organisations could affect access to education and essential services for poor and marginalised communities.
CPI MP P. Santhosh Kumar said Opposition parties had demanded that the Bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
“There is no necessity for these amendments. However, referring the Bill to a JPC was one of the major demands raised by Opposition parties,” he said, while expressing doubts over the committee’s likely outcome given the BJP’s expected majority.
RSP MP N.K. Premachandran reiterated his party’s demand for withdrawal of the Bill, alleging that it would give the government greater control over charitable organisations, NGOs and institutions run by minority communities.
The proposed legislation has emerged as another point of contention between the government and the Opposition, with the latter seeking greater scrutiny of its provisions and their potential impact on civil society organisations.
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