Opposition MPs Hibi Eden, Prashant Padole, Dean Kuriakose, Supriya Sule, and others, stage a protest during the second part of the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.  Photo | PTI
India

Opposition MPs stage protest in Parliament complex against FCRA amendment bill

Displaying a huge banner which had 'Stop Targeting NGOs and Institutions' written on it, the MPs raised slogans against the government and demanded the withdrawal of the Bill.

PTI

NEW DELHI: Several Opposition MPs led by the Congress staged a protest in Parliament House complex on Wednesday against the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, and demanded that the proposed legislation be withdrawn.

Displaying a huge banner which had 'Stop Targeting NGOs and Institutions' written on it, the MPs raised slogans against the government and demanded the withdrawal of the Bill.

Several Congress MPs, SP's Dimple Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, IUML's ET Mohammad Basheer, NCP(SP)'s Supriya Sule and RSP's NK Premchandran, among others, participated in the protest.

The Congress on Tuesday had claimed that the BJP is planning to "bulldoze" FCRA amendments in Parliament and said it would not allow the "blatantly unconstitutional" and "draconian bill" to be passed.

Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal had said party MPs have been urgently asked to reach Delhi and attend Parliament on Wednesday.

The bill to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, with the government making it clear that individuals engaging in forced religious conversion through foreign funding will not be spared.

Introducing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had stated that the legislation aims to enhance transparency and ensure proper utilisation of funds received from abroad.

Earlier on Tuesday, Union minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that the FCRA amendment Bill only seeks to stop the use of foreign funding against national security and interests and not to target any religious organisation.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters, Rijiju had slammed the Congress and Left parties, accusing them of spreading falsehood on the proposed amendment in the FCRA.

Their claims about the Bill are "completely false, fabricated and misleading", the BJP leader had said.

Ram Temple donation fraud case: Kejriwal says big names roaming scot-free while 'small-players' arrested

'Better to look inwards': India rejects Pakistan's allegations of New Delhi link to Karachi attack

All AAP MLAs, ministers summoned by Akal Takht will appear before Sikh body on June 29: Punjab CM Mann

PM Modi says Indian Ocean must become 'ocean of opportunity'; India, Seychelles sign nine pacts

England captain Ben Stokes to retire from international cricket after third test vs New Zealand

SCROLL FOR NEXT