Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 12: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday adopted a resolution to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), amid loud protests and sloganeering by Opposition members.

The JPC will comprise 21 MPs from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha.

The resolution, listed in the supplementary list of business, said the committee would submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the Winter Session 2026. It also recommended that the Rajya Sabha join the Joint Committee and communicate the names of its members to the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved the motion to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to the JPC.

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal demanded complete withdrawal of the Bill, alleging that it was aimed at targeting NGOs and “minority” organisations and institutions.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the allegation, saying the Bill was not intended to “target minorities”. He also pointed out that the Opposition itself had demanded that the legislation be referred to a JPC.

Rijiju said the proposed legislation was aimed at ensuring the security of the country.

Countering him, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that there was not a single Bill brought by the government that was not focused on minorities.

Responding to Yadav, Rijiju said India was not a “banana republic” and was governed by the Constitution. He asserted that there was no provision in the Bill that “targets the minorities”.

Amid continued sloganeering by Opposition members, the resolution to refer the FCRA Amendment Bill to the JPC was adopted by a voice vote.

The Lok Sabha was subsequently adjourned till 3 pm.