Opposition parties, including the Congress, have strongly opposed the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, which imposes restrictions on foreign donations. Let us look at this a little more clearly. At present, three more amendments have been made to the law, and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, known as FCRA, has been defined up to 2026. This amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha last March and is pending.
Non-governmental organizations, that is, NGOs, must file an affidavit stating what kinds of charitable activities will be undertaken in which state through foreign donations. Foreign donations must never be used for religious conversion. The bill states that if an NGO’s registration is canceled, the government administration will handle the assets of NGOs created with foreign donations.
According to the latest statistics, the registrations of 22,498 NGOs across the country have been canceled. The registrations of 15,212 NGOs have expired. Only about 14,449 NGOs are active.
Opposition leaders are alleging that, through the FCRA bill, the government administration will take control of the assets of NGOs whose registration has been canceled.
For the same reason, various Christian and Muslim NGOs are also strongly opposing the bill.
It is noteworthy that the ruling National Democratic Alliance has sufficient strength in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to pass this bill.
It appears that opposition parties, including the Congress, will strongly oppose this bill in both houses of Parliament.
Meanwhile, in an X post released by DMK leader M.K. Stalin, “Representatives of the Joint Action Committee forum for minorities, led by DMK MP Wilson and comprising prominent religious leaders from various religious communities in India, met the Union Home Minister on August 6.
They urged the Home Minister to withdraw the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha in March 2026, and to remove Section 15 of the FCRA Act, or alternatively, to refer this bill and a detailed review of the functioning of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, to the consideration of a Parliamentary Joint Committee.
Considering the serious consequences of this proposed bill, the DMK, which has been opposing its provisions from the outset, supports this demand.
“Considering the rights of minorities, I request that the Central Government examine the forum’s demand and take appropriate action in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament itself,” Stalin said, it is noteworthy.