Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal expressed strong opposition to the recent amendments in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) rules in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He criticized the amendments as draconian, warning that they could suppress the independence of NGOs, especially those led by minority groups.
Venugopal highlighted concerns about the financial penalties imposed on small NGOs and the mandatory disclosure of social media accounts, which he viewed as intrusive surveillance measures. The Union Home Ministry’s notification of the new FCRA rules has raised apprehensions about increased scrutiny and disclosure requirements for organizations receiving foreign funding.
In his communication to PM Modi, Venugopal emphasized that the amendments could severely impede the functioning and autonomy of civil society groups, particularly those associated with minority communities. He criticized the government’s attempt to introduce amendments that grant authority to seize properties of institutions with expired or canceled licenses, labeling it as a regressive move.
The Congress leader condemned the government’s tactics of pushing through legislation without transparent deliberation, urging for the withdrawal of the FCRA amendments. He stressed the importance of upholding the autonomy of civil society organizations and minority-run institutions for a vibrant democracy, emphasizing the need for an empowered civil society rather than one under government control.
