Kerala CM Urges PM to Drop FCRA Amendment Provisions

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw specific provisions in a proposed amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, citing concerns that they could lead to arbitrary government control over assets of charitable and religious institutions. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, sparking widespread apprehension among minority communities and organizations in Kerala and beyond.

In a letter sent on Sunday and shared publicly on Monday, Vijayan highlighted clauses that empower authorities to assume control of foreign contributions and related assets if an organization's FCRA registration is not renewed within the stipulated time, even due to technical delays or procedural issues. He argued that the existing 2010 FCRA already provides adequate mechanisms to address misuse of foreign funds, including detailed disclosure requirements for recipients. "The apprehension is that granting such sweeping powers to authorities could lead to arbitrary exercise, and such concerns cannot be dismissed as baseless," Vijayan wrote, noting potential impacts on places of...