New Delhi, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Wednesday for wider consultation, drawing sharply contrasting reactions from the BJP and Opposition, with the ruling party backing the proposed changes as a measure to strengthen oversight while Opposition leaders alleged that the legislation targets minorities and NGOs.
The Lok Sabha accepted the government’s resolution to refer the Bill to the JPC amid loud protests by Opposition members.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said the committee process would allow wider stakeholder participation and expert consultation. “FCRA is an important bill. Naturally, it has been referred to the JPC for more broad-based consultation and stakeholders’ view,” he told IANS, adding that the exercise would help make the legislation more comprehensive and build consensus.
BJP MP Naveen Jain described the proposed legislation as a requirement in the national interest. He argued that the government and citizens should be able to ascertain whether foreign contributions are being used for activities that could harm the country’s interests.
BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo similarly backed stronger checks on foreign funding, alleging that such funds could be misused by “anti-national forces”. He also alleged that some Christian missionaries had been accused of using foreign contributions for religious conversion.
Opposition parties strongly criticised the Bill. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra alleged that the proposed changes were aimed at restricting foreign funding for NGOs and charitable organisations, particularly those associated with Christian and Muslim communities.
Congress MP Hibi Eden described the legislation as an “organised attack against the minorities of this country”. He said minority organisations and NGOs have contributed to education and healthcare, including in tribal and Naxal-affected areas, and cited the Missionaries of Charity as an example of an organisation receiving foreign funds for social work.
CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah said the Centre had been forced to reconsider its approach under Opposition pressure and alleged that the legislation contained fundamental flaws. He also linked the proposed changes to broader concerns over the property and institutions of minority communities.
Earlier, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal said the government had chosen to send the Bill to the JPC rather than push it through amid disruptions in the House.
The JPC will now undertake a broader examination of the proposed amendments and consult stakeholders before the legislation proceeds further.
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