FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 arbitrary, unconstitutional: Manish Tewari

Congress MP Manish Tewari slammed the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, as 'arbitrary, malicious,' and unconstitutional. While IUML's MP also opposed it, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha supported the bill, citing transparency and national security.

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday criticised the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it "arbitrary and malicious". He said it violates several constitutional provisions, including Articles 14, 19, 21, and 301(A), and must be strongly opposed.

Speaking to the reporters, Tewari said, "When the FCRA Amendment Bill was introduced, I had opposed it on the principles of constitutionalism. The bill is arbitrary and malicious. It offends Article 14, 19, 21, 301(A) of the Constitution of India, and it needs to be strongly opposed."

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP ET Mohammed Basheer said they are strongly opposing the FCRA Amendment Bill, asserting that such legislation should not have been introduced. "We are strongly opposing this bill...They are not supposed to bring this kind of legislation," Basheer told ANI.

Govt ally backs bill, cites transparency and security

Meanwhile, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha supported the FCRA Amendment Bill, saying it will ensure transparency in foreign funding and help safeguard national security. "This is something that should happen. Where is the funding coming from? What is the source? Sometimes it even becomes a matter of national security. This will ensure complete information, and there will be transparency. This is a good step by the government," he said.

On the opposition's protest, he said, "Whenever any bill comes, the opposition's reaction is always like this... It's the government's job to see where that funding is coming from. This is a matter connected to national security."

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 25 and seeks to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, and is aimed at enhancing the transparency and accountability of foreign contributions in India.

Earlier today, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress and Communist Party of misleading people in Kerala over the FCRA Amendment Bill. Rijiju said there was "misinformation" around the FCRA Amendment Bill, asserting that it is not against any religion or organisation and is aimed at regulating foreign funding in the national interest. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)