LUCKNOW, Aug 13: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday accused both the Government and the Opposition of politicising the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, and said Parliament should have been allowed to debate its provisions.
The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the Government appeared keen to secure an early passage of the legislation, but strong protests by Opposition parties led to the Bill being referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Wednesday without an initial debate in the House.
The 31 member panel comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. It has been asked to submit its report by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament in 2026.
Opposition parties have criticised the proposed legislation, alleging that it could adversely affect minorities and non-governmental organisations. The Government has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the proposed changes are intended to strengthen regulation of foreign contributions and are not directed at any particular religion.
Mayawati said the Congress and its allies were describing the legislation as anti-minority and demanding its withdrawal, while the Government was defending tighter provisions by citing concerns over alleged misuse and corruption involving foreign funds.
In a post on X, the BSP leader said the positions taken by both sides showed that the issue had become politicised.
She argued that Opposition parties should have allowed the Bill to be introduced and debated in Parliament before pointing out its shortcomings. According to her, a detailed discussion would have enabled the public to understand the concerns surrounding the proposed legislation.
Mayawati also alleged that disruptions in Parliament had previously resulted in several Bills being passed within a short period, claiming that the situation ultimately benefited the Government politically.
The BSP chief further criticised the Opposition for not raising what she described as alleged irregularities related to donations received for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. She said such issues also warranted discussion in Parliament.
She urged Opposition parties to give greater attention to matters concerning the younger generation, including Gen Z, while continuing to raise issues affecting the wider public.
The legislation, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, proposes tighter government oversight of organisations receiving foreign contributions. It also provides for a designated authority to manage and dispose of assets in cases where an organisation’s FCRA licence is cancelled.
The referral to the JPC is expected to provide lawmakers an opportunity to examine the proposed provisions in greater detail before the committee submits its recommendations.