Rahul Gandhi alleges FCRA amendments favour RSS, warns of curbs on civil society

Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday alleged that the proposed amendments to foreign funding regulations would disproportionately benefit the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while placing charitable and community organisations under tighter government control.

He said the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill would give “a decisive advantage to the RSS in accessing funding, while leaving charitable and other community welfare organisations at the mercy of the central government.”

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The remarks come amid an intensifying political debate over changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which regulates how non-governmental organisations, associations and institutions receive foreign contributions.

The law has undergone several revisions in recent years, with the Centre maintaining that stricter provisions are necessary to ensure transparency, accountability and national security.

Opposition parties, however, have expressed concerns that the amendments could expand executive control and restrict the functioning of civil society organisations. Rahul Gandhi’s remarks add to growing criticism from opposition leaders who argue that the changes may create an uneven playing field.

Drawing a political contrast in poll-bound Kerala, he said, “This stands in stark contrast to the UDF’s people-centric approach,” referring to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). He added that the UDF works for the people, while both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) work for their organisational interests.

The Congress leader’s comments come as political parties sharpen their campaigns ahead of upcoming elections, with governance, welfare and institutional control emerging as key issues in the political discourse.