Congress leader and Public Accounts Committee Chairperson KC Venugopal has written to the Prime Minister, expressing strong objection to his recent remarks in Kerala and seeking answers over the handling of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Bill.
In his letter, Venugopal said the Prime Minister’s statement accusing the United Democratic Front (UDF) of spreading misinformation about the FCRA for political gain was “deeply problematic” and hurt sentiments. He also termed the timing of the remark, made on a “sacred day”, as unfortunate.
Questions raised on legislative process
The Congress MP raised concerns over the manner in which the FCRA Bill was introduced in Parliament. He questioned whether the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was consulted before the Bill was brought to the House and whether any time had been formally allocated for its discussion and passage.
Venugopal asked what urgency prompted the government to introduce the legislation without following established parliamentary procedures and conventions.
Referring to objections raised earlier in Parliament, including by Congress MP Manish Tewari, Venugopal said the Bill had been criticised as an infringement on constitutional rights.
He said the Bill was like the “sword of Damocles” hanging over charitable, educational, and service-oriented institutions working with a spirit of service.
He questioned why the government proceeded with the Bill despite warnings about its possible long-term consequences.
The letter also flagged the timing of the Bill’s introduction, pointing out that it coincided with Assembly elections in five states. Venugopal suggested that many Opposition MPs were away campaigning at the time, and alleged that the Bill was introduced on the last day before adjournment.
He questioned whether the move was deliberate and sought clarity on the government’s intent.
Venugopal further alleged that the Bill was part of a broader pattern affecting certain communities, including Christians. He said several religious and community leaders had expressed concern over the proposed amendments and asked why these concerns were not addressed.
The Congress leader also pointed to the eventual withdrawal of the Bill, questioning the government’s rationale. He said the move raised doubts about the intent behind introducing it in the first place.
Calling the provisions of the Bill “unacceptable”, Venugopal urged the government to assure the public that no similar legislation targeting social and community organisations would be introduced in the future.
DMK also raises concerns over FCRA Bill
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Arun Nehru also expressed concern over the FCRA Bill 2026, stating that no Union Minister has clearly explained the purpose of the proposed legislation, further cautioning that the bill could potentially be used to target minority institutions. Arun Nehru emphasised that the DMK is seeking clarity and formal assurances from the government.
“Even assuming they are acting with good intentions and giving them the benefit of the doubt, none of the Union ministers or anyone from the BJP or ruling party has clearly explained why this is being introduced. That is why our concern — that it could be used to target minority institutions — is validated. What we are asking is simple: can someone state clearly that this is not the case, and outline the safeguards? They have still not done so,” Arun Nehru said.