Congress Alleges Amit Shah Misled Bishops Over FCRA Reforms

Venugopal took to social media to denounce the 2026 amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, describing the policy as a calculated strike against the autonomy of non-governmental bodies. He argued that the ruling BJP uses these regulatory levers to trigger property seizures and create an environment of fear for vocal institutions.

The critique centers on the government’s 2020 tightening of FCRA mandates, which extended suspension windows and granted the center expanded powers to audit administrative spending. Venugopal specifically pointed to a controversial amendment regarding property seizure—a provision he claims the government initially withdrew under public pressure, only to reintroduce it through quieter, secondary channels. He challenged the administration to reconcile these modern constraints with the original 2010 legislation, asserting that the current legal framework has evolved into a draconian tool designed to erode fundamental civil freedoms.