- FCRA Bill deferred in Lok Sabha after opposition protests
- Kiren Rijiju defends FCRA Bill citing national security
Hyderabad, April 2: The Centre has deferred consideration of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament. The decision came after a brief discussion in the Lok Sabha. The government had introduced the bill on March 25 as a financial bill under Article 117.
The move follows strong protests from opposition parties. The issue has also gained attention due to its possible impact in poll bound Kerala. The Church holds political influence in the state, which added to the debate around the bill.
Meanwhile, although the bill appeared in Wednesday’s official agenda, the House did not take it up for discussion. During Question Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed members that the government would not proceed with the bill. He also accused the opposition, especially the Congress and CPI M, of misleading people.
He said the amendment is necessary for national security. He added that it aims to regulate the use of foreign funding. He also clarified that the bill does not target any religion. He said, “I had told the Congress party yesterday that since the bill has been introduced it has been listed for consideration and passage for Wednesday. But, today the FCRA (Amendment) bill is not being taken up for discussion.”
However, protests continued inside the House. As a result, proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon. The disruptions reflected the sharp divisions over the bill. Opposition parties raised concerns about its implications.
Later, speaking outside Parliament, Rijiju said the decision was not political. He said, “This is not a political issue. Several bills have been introduced, and we take them up depending on the situation and timing. The Andhra Pradesh bill (to declare Amaravati as its capital) was urgent, which is why it was taken up today.”
Therefore, the government maintained that timing and priority guided the decision. The development shows the ongoing tension between the Centre and opposition over key legislation.
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