Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: FCRA amendment is an attack on minorities, says Kharge

All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge has labelled the proposed amendment of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) as an “attack against minorities.” Addressing a United Democratic Front (UDF) election campaign at Elappara in Idukki on Sunday, Mr. Kharge alleged that the amendment is not merely a legal change but a targeted strike.

“The FCRA amendment is not just about the public; it targets the Christian community. Just as the Waqf Bill affects the Muslim community, the FCRA amendment will impact the Christian community at the same level,” said the Congress president.

Following in the footsteps of Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Kharge raised the Sabarimala gold theft case, asserting that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government remains “under the shadow” of the scandal. He further alleged a “mutual understanding” between the LDF and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are following the same administrative model.

Referring to the ongoing crisis in the tea plantation sector in Peerumade, Mr. Kharge accused the LDF government of forgetting promises made to workers. He also addressed the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the district and promised that a UDF government would take “effective steps” to prevent attacks and ensure timely compensation for victims.

He further said that the UDF would prioritise the distribution of title deeds to all eligible residents in the district, calling it a “serious concern.”

“Kerala is a progressive State, but I now fear it is moving backwards,” Mr. Kharge remarked. “For the last 10 years, the LDF government made many promises but failed to fulfil any of them,” he said.

AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunshi, leader P. Mohan, Telangana Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka), Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose, Kottayam MP K. Francis George and Peerumade constituency UDF candidate Cyriac Thomas, among others, attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) intensified its campaign with a massive roadshow in Munnar for Devikulam constituency candidate S. Rajendran. Led by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, the march moved from Old Munnar to Market Junction.

The Devikulam constituency is currently witnessing a high-stakes triangular fight following the entry of S. Rajendran—a three-time former Communist Party of India(Marxist) [CPI(M)] MLA—into the poll scenario as the NDA candidate.