Akhilesh Yadav calls FCRA Bill anti-minority, Kiren Rijiju says prove it
In a brief moment during the Parliamentary showdown, the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locked horns on
In a brief moment during the Parliamentary showdown, the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locked horns on Wednesday. Shortly after the Centre decided to send the controversial FCRA Bill to a 21-member Joint Parliamentary Committee, Akhilesh lambasted the Centre for the alleged anti-minority provisions of the bill. His allegations were soon countered by Rijiju. Read Full Story “We, the entire Opposition, are against the FCRA bill that the government is bringing. Honourable Speaker, the honourable minister is saying that this bill is not against minorities. I want to ask the honourable minister: tell us, which bill has this government brought so far that was not against minorities?’ Akhilesh said while reiterating the Opposition’s position to withdraw the bill.
Akhilesh’s words did not go unanswered as Rijiju soon countered him with the claim that not a single provision of the FCRA Bill is anti-minority and it does not target any religion or civil society groups. He also ‘challenged’ Akhilesh to prove how the bill targets any religion or group. “Show me one provision in the Bill that is against minorities. They are spreading lies. There is no question of targeting minorities. This country is not a federal republic. There is not a single provision in the Bill that targets minorities,” he said. The minister further asserted that no foreign fund can flow into the country without a proper regulatory framework. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, is the law that regulates the receipt and use of foreign donations by NGOs, associations and other organisations in India.
The government uses the law to ensure that foreign funds are not used in ways that could adversely affect national interest, public order or other legally protected interests. Organisations receiving foreign contributions are required to register under the FCRA and comply with rules governing the receipt, utilisation and disclosure of such funds. The proposed FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks to tighten these regulations and introduce new safeguards around foreign-funded organisations. One of its key proposals is the creation of a Designated Authority that could take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created from such funds if an organisation's FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases because it is not renewed. The Opposition's principal concern centres on the proposed powers of the designated authority.
The BriefWire