Thiruvananthapuram, July 1 (IANS) The Kerala Assembly on Wednesday passed a special resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, with the BJP emerging as the lone dissenting voice in the House.

The resolution was adopted by 111 votes to two, with two BJP members voting against it after their proposed amendments were rejected.

BJP member V. Muraleedharan, who moved amendments to the resolution, argued that state legislatures had no authority to seek changes to laws enacted by the Parliament and contended that such a resolution itself was contrary to the principles of federalism.

However, the Assembly rejected his amendments before adopting the original motion by an overwhelming majority.

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan alleged that the proposed amendments were aimed at bringing voluntary organisations and NGOs under tighter central control, thereby curtailing the autonomy of civil society institutions.

He said the changes would adversely affect organisations engaged in welfare, healthcare, education, rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, disaster relief and other humanitarian activities, particularly in Kerala where such institutions supplement government efforts in delivering essential services.

The resolution argues that the amended Rules arbitrarily confine organisations to 105 specified activity sectors, impose fresh registration requirements for operations outside the state of registration, delay project implementation by linking the release of subsequent foreign funding to utilisation verification, and prescribe penalties of up to 30 per cent of foreign contributions even for technical violations.

It also objects to provisions requiring disclosure of the personal social media accounts and publications of office-bearers, describing them as an intrusion into privacy and a threat to the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

The expanded definition of key functionary, making trustees, partners and directors personally liable for violations, was also criticised as a measure that would discourage eminent professionals from participating in the voluntary sector.

The Assembly further expressed concern over provisions empowering a designated authority to take over and even dispose of assets created using foreign contributions if an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, suspended, or not renewed.

It also warned that the undefined reference to “proselytisation” could be misused against organisations working among tribal and other vulnerable communities.

Maintaining that the proposed law and Rules violate constitutional freedoms and undermine the federal structure, the Assembly called upon the Union Government to withdraw the amendments in their entirety.

–IANS

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