Three MPs accuse NDA of trying to retain power through delimitation and oppose FCRA Bill

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Three Members of Parliament of the Congress, the CPI and the MDMK expressed their strong opposition to any proposed delimitation and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill (FCRA), 2026, in its present form.

At a symposium organised here on Sunday, they said the delimitation was specially targeted against the southern States which had shown measures in controlling population rise while the FCRA Bill would adversely affect even the poorer sections besides the minorities and the organisations run by them once it becomes an Act, the MPs felt.

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister Ramesh, who participated, categorically said the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay would not remain a spectator when difficulties arose for the minorities. The government was also “firm” in its stand to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at the existing 543.

Highlighting some of the controversial clauses in the FCRA Bill, Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko (MDMK) said minority educational institutions were playing a pivotal role in the field of education and services because of which Tamil Nadu was in the forefront today. The FCRA Bill would not only affect the minorities who run several educational institutions and hospitals but also hit the poorer sections getting benefited by it not only in Tamil Nadu but all over the country, he said. It was because of the stiff resistance from the Opposition in Parliament that the contentious FCRA Bill had been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, he said. Mr. Durai Vaiko charged the BJP-led NDA government with trying to deceive the people on the Delimitation Bill and stressed the need for opposing it as it would affect the interests of southern States.

Nagapattinam MP V. Selvaraj (CPI) said the NDA was trying to consolidate its position in the northern States and stage a comeback without the support of southern States by proposing delimitation and the FCRA Bill was directed against the minorities and the organisations run by them.

Congress Rajya Sabha member M. Christopher Tilak said India was a nation of many minorities and “a false narrative” was being spread that the foreign contributions were being used for conversion.

Indian Union Muslim League national president K.M. Kader Mohideen said the apprehensions of the minorities on the FCRA Bill in its present form should be conveyed to the Joint Parliamentary Committee members in person in the form of a memorandum. He called upon the MPs from Tamil Nadu to help the minority community in clarifying their position to the Committee on the FCRA Bill.

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