FRCA Should Not Become a Fraud on Parliament: Congress MP Seeks JPC Extension

In Short

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has sought an extension for the JPC reviewing the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, alleging inadequate stakeholder consultations and raising concerns over its impact on civil society groups and constitutional rights.

Congress MP K C Venugopal
X

Congress MP K C Venugopal

Font size
FOLLOW ON Google News

After ‘Vote Chori’ the Congress party wants to highlight the issue of the FCRA before the winter session of the Parliament and demand withdrawal of the bill as it feels the bill is an attempt at relentless weaponisation aimed at depriving millions of Indians of crucial aid in healthcare, education, and livelihood generation.

"The relentless weaponisation of the FCRA over the past few years has already led to the cancellation of thousands of licenses, depriving millions of Indians of crucial aid in healthcare, education, and livelihood generation,"

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026, and from the outset all Opposition parties opposed it in one voice. It was then referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee and the government hopes to take it up for discussion during the winter session if the JPC report is submitted to the Speaker by that time.

The Congress MP K C Venugopal on Thursday wrote a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla alleging that no meaningful discussion was taking place in the JPC. He said the JPC was not making any attempt to hold serious discussions with stakeholders and appears to be in a mood to hastily pass the bill in winter session.

Venugopal, who posted the letter on his X handle, said that if stakeholders were not consulted, it would defeat the very purpose of the JPC. He urged the Speaker to direct the JPC to invite suggestions from stakeholders through written memoranda and take up an oral hearing. He was of the view that since this exercise was important, the JPC needs more time and hence the deadline for submitting the report be extended.

In his letter, he said, "I write to draw your kind attention to the manner in which the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 is reportedly proceeding, and to seek your intervention as the custodian of this House and its Committees."

Proposals such as extending the bar on foreign contribution to "any person" and transferring the funds and assets of an organisation to a government-designated authority on cancellation or non-renewal of its registration have caused deep anxiety among these institutions, Venugopal said.

Justifying the demand for extension of deadline, the Congress MP said, this is a highly sensitive Bill with wide-ranging ramifications on the Constitutional rights of minorities and civil society groups.

"We believe that any Bill that emerges out of a JPC should be flawless, and Parliament should be assured that it has passed through a rigorous consultation process. Without ensuring that, a JPC is a meaningless exercise and a fraud on the Parliament," he added.

A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

Next Story
Share it