Venugopal writes to PM, seeks withdrawal of new FCRA amendment

Kottayam: Congress MP and Public Accounts Committee chairperson K C Venugopal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the amemdement of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) rules and demanded its immediate withdrawal.Venugopal called the amendment a “systemic assault” on civil society. He said provisions such as mandatory activity lists, state-wise fees and fines of up to 30% of funds or ₹1 lakh for administrative lapses would bankrupt small NGOs, including minority-run institutions. He also flagged mandatory disclosure of social media accounts as “mass surveillance” and a clause barring “political/ideological content” in educational programmes as a tool to silence dissent.