Government Defers FCRA Amendment Bill, Kiren Rijiju Slams Opposition Ahead of Kerala Polls

New Delhi, April 1: The Central government has decided to defer the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accusing Opposition parties of spreading “misleading information” about the Bill in the run-up to elections in Kerala. Rijiju said the decision to hold back the amendment was taken to avoid confusion among the public, alleging that certain political groups were attempting to “misinterpret provisions” of the proposed changes for electoral gains. “Wrong narratives are being created. The government does not want unnecessary controversy at this stage,” he stated. The FCRA law regulates foreign funding received by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other entities in India. Proposed amendments were expected to tighten compliance norms and enhance transparency in the use of overseas funds. Opposition leaders, however, have raised concerns that stricter provisions could impact the functioning of civil society organizations, especially those working in sensitive sectors. They have accused the Centre of attempting to curb dissent through regulatory measures—an allegation the government has repeatedly denied. Political observers note that the timing of the debate has gained significance with electoral activity intensifying in Kerala, where issues related to governance, transparency, and civil society engagement often feature prominently in campaign narratives. While the government has not announced a fresh timeline for introducing the amendments, officials indicated that consultations with stakeholders may continue before the Bill is brought back to Parliament.