FCRA bill put off till Kerala polls?: No discussion in Lok Sabha on amendments, says Kiren Rijiju amid Opposition protest

Minister accuses Congress and CPI(M) of misleading the country because of Assembly elections in Kerala

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government deferred the taking up of the contentious Foreign Contribution (Amendment) Regulation Bill, 2026, for passage in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday following a pushback from the Opposition and Christian leaders as well as pressure from the Kerala BJP that fears it will negatively impact in the Assembly elections.

The bill was listed for debate and passage in the Lok Sabha but Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the House during Question Hour that it would not be taken up, even as he accused the Congress and CPI(M) of misleading people on the issue.

The Bill — which proposes taking over assets created using foreign funds if an entity allowed to collect such donations gets their licence cancelled, ceased or suspended — has attracted protests from the Congress and the CPI(M) as well as the church, calling it “arbitrary” and leaving several avenues for “misuse”.

The Kerala BJP, which is actively wooing the Christian community in the State, approached the Central leadership, claiming that the passage of the Bill would impact its prospects and sought deferring it. Sources said Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged the BJP leadership to go slow on the bill.

As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the Question Hour, Opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, shouted slogans against the Bill and demanded its withdrawal. Before the commencement of proceedings, the MPs had staged a protest at Makar Dwar of the Parliament House.

Amid the protest, Rijiju told the House that he had “told the senior leaders of the Congress yesterday and today that we are not going to take up the Bill today for consideration (and passing).” He said it was not against any religion or aimed at targeting any organisation.

His announcement, however, did not pacify the protesting MPs, following which Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 12 noon.

Accusing the Kerala MPs of protesting under “wrong impression”, he said the Bill became part of the List of Business as it was introduced last week while insisting that its “misinterpretation” was not right. He alleged that the Opposition was raking it up because of the Assembly elections in Kerala.

Recalling that a major amendment to the Act was made by the UPA government in 2010 which was followed by other amendments, he said the proposed changes are about regulation of foreign donations and its proper use, keeping in mind national security and national interest.

The opposition to the bill was mainly on the ground that it gives the government powers to take control of assets created using foreign funds without adequate checks and balances, which could hamper the effective functioning of such organisations.

Congress MP Hibi Eden told reporters that the bill was "draconian" and would hamper the interests of not just the minorities but many NGOs operating in the country. “After the amendments to the Waqf Act, this is another move by the Modi government to curtail the rights of minorities,” he said.

RSP MP N K Premachandran said the Bill targets religious minorities, particularly the Christian community, which is managing charity operations in Kerala and throughout the country. “By virtue of the new amendment bill, the regulatory mechanism is being converted into a control and administrative system,” he said.