New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday criticised both the Centre and the Opposition over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying the issue has been “excessively politicised”.
Mayawati said the debate over the proposed changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, should focus on the provisions of the legislation rather than becoming another political confrontation. Her remarks came amid a sharp exchange between the government and opposition parties during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The FCRA Amendment Bill has become one of the contentious issues of the current session. The government has argued that the proposed changes are intended to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of foreign contributions and assets received by organisations. The Opposition, however, has raised concerns over the possible impact of the provisions on NGOs and civil society organisations.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday referred the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee following an uproar in the House. Opposition MPs have opposed several provisions and alleged that the proposed law could disproportionately affect minority organisations. The referral means the legislation will undergo further scrutiny before Parliament takes a final decision.
According to the Bill's provisions, an organisation's FCRA registration could be treated as having ceased if it fails to apply for renewal, if its renewal application is rejected, or if renewal is not obtained before the certificate expires. In such circumstances, assets created using foreign contributions could be placed under the control of a designated authority.
Mayawati also criticised the functioning of both sides of the political divide. She said the Opposition's repeated disruptions of Parliament were allowing the government to push legislation through without adequate discussion. At the same time, she accused the ruling side and the Opposition of turning the issue into a political battle instead of ensuring a detailed examination of the Bill.
She argued that if the Opposition had serious objections to the FCRA provisions, it should have clearly highlighted their shortcomings and presented its arguments effectively in Parliament.
The BSP chief's intervention comes at a time when Parliament has witnessed repeated disruptions over several issues. With the FCRA Bill now before the Joint Parliamentary Committee, Mayawati's comments have added another political voice calling for a more substantive debate on the proposed legislation.
The committee's examination is expected to provide an opportunity for members to study the Bill's provisions in greater detail before its next legislative step.
