Government skips FCRA amendment Bill; Rijiju accuses Opposition of spreading ‘wrong things’ before Kerala polls

Amid strong protests from Opposition benches, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) informed the Lok Sabha that the government did not intend to bring a Bill to amend the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act (FCRA) in the ongoing Budget session.

Mr. Rijiju accused the Opposition of misleading people in Kerala and across the country ahead of the Assembly elections in the State. “I had told the Congress yesterday [March 31, 2026] that since the Bill has been introduced, it has been listed for consideration and passage for Wednesday [April 1, 2026]. But today [April 1, 2026], the FCRA (amendment) Bill is not being taken up for discussion,” he said amid slogans.

Protests erupted in the House as soon as the Question Hour began at 11 a.m., with Opposition members, mainly from Kerala, raising slogans against the provisions of the FCRA (Amendment) Bill.

Mr. Rijiju said the Bill, introduced last month, seeks to protect national security and interest and asserted that it is not aimed at any religion or organisation. It is intended to prevent misuse of foreign contributions, he said.

“Since there are elections in Kerala, the Congress and the Communists are spreading wrong things about the Bill,” he said.

Also Read | Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: FCRA amendment Bill casts a shadow over BJP’s Christian outreach

As Opposition members trooped into the Well, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon. Even before the House met, Opposition members had protested outside the main entrance of Parliament.

It is not only the Opposition protests, but also pressure from the Kerala unit of the BJP, that seems to have forced the government to rethink pushing the FCRA (Amendment) Bill in the Budget session.

Also Read |Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: FCRA amendment Bill casts a shadow over BJP’s Christian outreach