Representational image only. Photo Credit: Sansad TV
The first indication of the Union Government’s softening of stance on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, emerged on August 9, when several Christian organisations launched coordinated appeals on YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp, urging the Centre to either refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or withdraw it altogether. The appeals were seen as an attempt to provide the government with an honourable route to step back from pushing the legislation through Parliament.On Wednesday, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai moved a motion in the Lok Sabha to send the Bill to a JPC. Amid din, the motion was adopted, giving Parliament more time to examine the contentious provisions in the Bill.Ever since the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, Opposition parties have protested the legislation. It was among the bunch of legislations listed for passage in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, which concludes on August 13. The Bill makes way for the appointment of a ‘designated authority’ to take over, manage, or dispose of assets created from foreign funds when an NGO’s FCRA registration is suspended, cancelled, or not renewed. This authority will have the powers of a civil court and can order the transfer or sale of assets owned by NGOs to either the government or any other body.Since July 6, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has held at least four meetings with various Christian groups to allay their concerns. The latest meeting was held on August 6 in the Parliament House complex when he met an 18-member delegation comprising all Christian denominations — Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox.Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP P. Wilson, who led the delegation called the Joint Action Forum on Minorities, said the Home Minister granted an audience after they wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We had given a representation to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s Office forwarded it to the Home Minister, and we were called by the Home Minister for a meeting,” Mr. Wilson said.Government sources said the subsequent decision to refer the Bill to a JPC was also a conciliatory move aimed at breaking the parliamentary deadlock, with Opposition parties continuing to demand a discussion on the police action against Jantar Mantar protesters on July 20.U.S. pressureThe statement made by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, on August 4 on X, where he alleged that the Bill could permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities, was also one of the reasons for the rethink, sources said. In the post, the Republican politician described the Bill as a “clear attack against Christians” and warned that the issue could become a concern in India-U.S. relations.On Wednesday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) welcomed the move, saying it was a “positive step”.Jonathan Lalremruata, advisor to the CBCI, told The Hindu that the legislation should differentiate between major and minor offences before the assets built by an NGO are taken over. “Regulation of foreign funds is a must. Action should be taken against those NGOs which indulge in anti-national activities. If a building has been made at a cost of ₹100 lakh, and ₹50 lakh is foreign funds and the rest is domestic contribution, which part is going to be tagged as foreign funds?” Mr. Lalremruata said, adding that they will be deposing before the committee with their suggestions.He said by next week, as decided during the meeting with Mr. Shah on July 10, the CBCI will send a list of Christian institutions whose registrations have either been cancelled or delayed arbitrarily. FCRA registration is mandatory to receive foreign funds.After his meeting with the Home Minister on August 6, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had said the Bill would likely be discussed in the House on August 12. Published - August 12, 2026 10:22 pm IST
