FCA bill in its current form is unacceptable: Congress

The Congress has strongly opposed the current form of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) bill, saying that the party and the entire opposition will not accept it in its current form and will collectively oppose it. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said on Wednesday while talking to journalists in the Parliament House complex that the Congress and the entire opposition will not accept the FCRA bill in its current form. He said that having a separate system for RSS-affiliated organizations and separate laws for other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is not acceptable. He said the party will not let this "draconian" bill pass.

Mr. Venugopal said, "The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has expressed his strong concern about the FCRA bill. The party and the entire opposition's stance is clear that the FCRA bill will not be accepted in its current form. The idea that the RSS can do everything, while other NGOs have separate laws, is not acceptable. We will strongly oppose this draconian bill and will not let it pass at any cost."

He said that the Congress has been demanding a discussion on the Ram temple donation controversy because the whole country is concerned about the issue. He said that Home Minister Amit Shah should come to the House and explain the issue of alleged atrocities against students and firing. Parliament is a place for discussion and debate, but the government is trying to pass bills in a hurry, avoiding discussion.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government is not listening to the voice of the people and the opposition. He said that the opposition is raising public interest issues such as the alleged attack on students, the E-20 issue, the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, and the Ram temple donation controversy in Parliament, but the government is not willing to discuss them.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah should come to the House and explain themselves. He said that a solution will come out of discussion, and by not being present in the House, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are insulting Parliament.