Oppn may press for statement by Shah as govt set to table FCRA bill

Opposition parties in India are set to intensify their demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address allegations of police excess during student protests at Jantar Mantar. This stance is poised to create a significant hurdle for the government's legislative agenda, as the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill is slated for introduction in Parliament next week.

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The Opposition parties have been very clear in our focus and commitment to run Parliament. The ball is squarely in the court of the home minister. Come, make a statement on the floor of Parliament on the police excess on students. If he does not, he would be responsible for the disruptions. Not us. This is Parliament. Not the Gujarat Gymkhana. And if they try any stunts and bring FCRA, it won’t cut. First: HM statement. Then all else.

Leaders from various opposition parties have reiterated their commitment to disrupting parliamentary proceedings until Shah provides a statement. "The ball is squarely in the court of the home minister. Come, make a statement on the floor of Parliament on the police excess on students. If he does not, he would be responsible for the disruptions. Not us," stated Derek O’Brien, the Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader. He emphasized that the FCRA bill would not be considered until the home minister addresses the issue of police brutality.

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The Opposition parties have decided to continue to demand a statement first from home minister Amit Shah on police brutalities on protesting youth and students especially on July 20.

While the primary demand focuses on Shah's statement, a section of the opposition also wishes to engage in a debate over the proposed FCRA amendments. John Brittas, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), expressed concerns that the bill could infringe upon fundamental rights and potentially target minority communities, particularly Christians. "The Opposition has a duty to oppose this piece of legislation. It dents the fundamental rights," Brittas said. However, there appears to be a divergence within the opposition, with a senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader indicating a desire to debate the bill, contrasting with the Congress party's focus on the home minister's statement.

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The bill is not only against the Christians but against all sections of the society.