Overview
- Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Wednesday the listed FCRA Amendment Bill would not be taken up, following loud protests that disrupted Lok Sabha.
- The draft law would set up a designated authority to take control of foreign-funded assets when an NGO’s FCRA licence lapses, is cancelled, suspended or surrendered, including assets built partly with overseas donations.
- Opposition MPs rallied inside and outside Parliament, with Congress, CPI(M) and others calling the measure unconstitutional as church bodies warned it could expose minority-run schools, hospitals and charities to takeover over even minor lapses.
- The government insisted the proposal targets misuse of foreign money and protects national security, with BJP leaders saying it does not single out any religion and aims to curb forced conversions and illegal spending.
- Kerala politics sharpened the standoff as BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged consultations, sources said the Bill may not return this Budget session, and reports noted about 16,000 registered groups receive roughly Rs 22,000 crore a year under FCRA.