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🇮🇳 India /Elections & Politics

India's FCRA bill sent to joint committee amid opposition uproar

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • India's Parliament referred the controversial Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill to a 31-member joint committee amid opposition protests.
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered to debate student protests and the Ram Temple donation row, but the opposition rejected the offer.
  • The opposition plans to continue opposing the bill within the joint committee, citing concerns about targeting minorities and NGOs.

A contentious bill proposing amendments to India's foreign contribution law was sent to a 31-member joint parliamentary committee on Wednesday. The move followed a significant standoff between the government and the opposition, which led to repeated disruptions in the House.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is ready for discussions. The House should be allowed to run, the Opposition should submit a letter to the speaker by 2pm today. We are ready to start discussion at 3pm today.

— Amit ShahUnion Home Minister Amit Shah's statement outside Parliament offering to discuss student protests and police action.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended an offer for a debate on student protests and police action, stating the government was ready for discussions. However, opposition leaders, who had been demanding a statement from Shah and a debate on the Ram Temple donation row, rejected the proposal. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dismissed Shah's offer as a "last-minute attempt," indicating the opposition was not interested in listening to his "lecture."

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, introduced in a previous session, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, several church delegations, and chief ministers from Christian-majority states. Concerns have been raised about the bill's potential impact on minority communities and non-governmental organizations.

Last-minute attempt. The opposition was not interested in listening to his lecture.

— Rahul GandhiCongress leader Rahul Gandhi's response to Amit Shah's offer for a debate.

Despite the opposition's calls for the bill's withdrawal, the government proceeded with referring it to a joint committee comprising 21 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members. The opposition has stated its intention to join the committee but will continue to "strongly oppose this bill" and prevent its "unconstitutional and coercive provisions" from becoming law. They argue that while the RSS receives foreign donations, the government targets minorities and NGOs.

Even in the JPC, we will continue to strongly oppose this bill and will not allow these unconstitutional and coercive provisions to become law.

— KC VenugopalCongress general secretary KC Venugopal stating the opposition's stance on the FCRA bill within the joint committee.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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