NEW DELHI: Describing the amendments to FCRA rules as designed “not to regulate but to strangulate” independent civil society, Congress leader KC Venugopal Thursday wrote to PM Narendra Modi demanding that they be withdrawn.Venugopal called the recently notified rules an “overt and systemic assault on India’s civil society”, warning that they would financially and operationally cripple NGOs that render critical services to marginalised communities.CPM MP John Brittas wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding that the rules be withdrawn.Venugopal said the rules had been amended to make up for withdrawal of the FCRA bill in Budget session of Parliament. “If accepted, they will convert independent civil society into a terrified govt-controlled echo chamber,” he added.The Congress MP particularly criticised the rules that require NGOs to select their activities from a rigid, govt-mandated list and restrict their operational geography. He said levying a separate fee for every additional state or category was “nothing short of an administrative toll tax designed to discourage pan-India social work”.Brittas objected to the introduction of the term “proselytisation” in the schedule related to religious activities, saying it was not defined in FCRA or the amended rules. He slammed the expansion in disclosure requirements for FCRA-registered organisations which will go beyond financial accountability and create an “extensive compliance and surveillance architecture”Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCanada Officially Confirms Khalistani Role In Air India Kanishka BombingKolkata Warehouse Collapse: Bengal CM Blames TMC Regime, Says ‘Flawed Plan’ Got ApprovalRam Mandir Donation Row: F.I.R Filed Against Eight Accused After SIT Flags EmbezzlementThreat To Journalists? Shiv Sena MP’s Remarks Trigger Political Storm In MaharashtraWhy India Has Given Dinesh Trivedi Cabinet Minister-Equivalent Status In Bangladesh?From Deportation Calls To Racist Attacks: The Rise Of Anti-Indian Sentiment In The US’Congress, BJP & SAD Joined Hands’: Punjab CM Mann Blames Opposition For ‘Conspiracy’India-Pak Backchannel Talks Continue In Colombo And Bangkok Amid Diplomatic Freeze: ReportsIf Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID And Passport Aren’t Final Proofs, What Actually Makes You Indian?Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Meet Lok Sabha Speaker, Stress Constitutional Process On Party Claims123PhotostoriesFriday OTT releases (June 26): ‘Raja Shivaji’, ‘Little Brother’, ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’, ‘Perfect Family’ and moreShoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar ring in son Ruhaan’s third birthday quietly amid father’s hospitalisationButtermilk for Summer: 8 traditional buttermilk dishes of India to keep the gut cool7 places on Earth that are compared to hell and yet travellers keep going10 baby girl names that symbolise renewal and positivity in different languagesSuccess quote of the day by Kunal Shah: ‘There are no over-ambitious people; only dreamers with no plans’Psychology says women comfortable being alone often share these 8 powerful traitsPushy parenting does more harm than good: What it is and 5 signs you may be oneThis everyday habit before work could be quietly damaging your performanceInside Samay Raina’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living area, a streaming room and more123Hot PicksCharles OliveiraKetan Agrawal MurderMike Vrabel ControversyGermany Vs EcuadorSujata Rout KarthikeyanED KelceNHL Trade RumorsNFL Trade RumorsAndy RoddickTop TrendingSundar PichaiVenezuela NewsRithuparna KSFIFA World Cup 2026Venezuela earthquake NewsMumba Local Train MurderMEA PassportNandani BosmiyaMK StalinMumbai Local Train News
NEW DELHI: Describing the amendments to FCRA rules as designed “not to regulate but to strangulate” independent civil society, Congress leader KC Venugopal Thursday wrote to PM Narendra Modi demanding that they be withdrawn.Venugopal called the recently notified rules an “overt and systemic assault on India’s civil society”, warning that they would financially and operationally cripple NGOs that render critical services to marginalised communities.CPM MP John Brittas wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding that the rules be withdrawn.Venugopal said the rules had been amended to make up for withdrawal of the FCRA bill in Budget session of Parliament. “If accepted, they will convert independent civil society into a terrified govt-controlled echo chamber,” he added.The Congress MP particularly criticised the rules that require NGOs to select their activities from a rigid, govt-mandated list and restrict their operational geography. He said levying a separate fee for every additional state or category was “nothing short of an administrative toll tax designed to discourage pan-India social work”.Brittas objected to the introduction of the term “proselytisation” in the schedule related to religious activities, saying it was not defined in FCRA or the amended rules. He slammed the expansion in disclosure requirements for FCRA-registered organisations which will go beyond financial accountability and create an “extensive compliance and surveillance architecture”
