Opposition protests 'draconian' FCRA Amendment Bill in Parliament

Opposition MPs protested in Parliament, demanding the withdrawal of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Congress MP Hibi Eden called it a 'draconian law' that will hamper the interests of minorities and NGOs.

Opposition Protests 'Draconian' FCRA Bill

Opposition MPs on Wednesday protested at the Makar Dwar of Parliament, demanding the withdrawal of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Congress MP Hibi Eden called it a "draconian law" that could affect minorities and NGOs across the country.

Speaking to ANI, Eden said, "It is a draconian law which will hamper the interests of not just the minorities but many NGOs running in India...We will strongly condemn and object, and demand withdrawal of this bill."

Congress MP Dharamvir Gandhi said,"...We are against it. It should be an impartial decision which benefits all sections of society; it cannot be selective." Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premchandran said, "It is not the question of Christian or any particular community. It is a planned agenda on the part of the BJP to take away the privileges and rights of the minorities..."

Bill Listed for Passage in Lok Sabha

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has been listed for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha today, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah set to move that the Bill, which seeks further amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, be taken up for discussion. The FCRA 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.

New Excise Duty on Aviation Fuel

Further, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to move a statutory resolution approving Notification No. 07/2026-Central Excise, which imposes a Special Additional Excise Duty of Rs 50 per litre on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). The decision comes in the backdrop of rising global crude oil prices and escalating operational costs in the aviation sector.

Other Parliamentary Business

The House will begin proceedings at 11 AM, starting with question hour followed by the laying of papers by ministers, including Jitendra Singh (Science & Technology) and Ravneet Singh (Railways).

The House will also take up reports and statements of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the fiscal year 2025-26. Key presentations by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal and Jai Prakash include the 39th to 44th Reports on matters ranging from excesses over voted grants and charged appropriations to derailments in Indian Railways and issues concerning service tax/GST collections from passengers. (ANI)

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