Thiruvananthapuram, March 30: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026. He described the bill as a direct attack on the autonomy of civil society and minority institutions.
In his letter, Vijayan expressed concerns that the central government is creating a tool for arbitrary control and intimidation by granting extensive powers to seize properties under technical grounds. He urged the Prime Minister to withdraw these harsh provisions, which pose a threat to organizations serving the poor and marginalized. “We must protect our constitutional values and ensure that the spirit of selfless service is not stifled by executive interference,” he stated.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the bill, presented in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, includes provisions that have raised apprehensions and concerns among various sections of society, particularly minority communities. A review of the bill’s clauses indicates that powers to seize properties have been granted even for technical deficiencies.
Vijayan pointed out that such broad powers could be misused arbitrarily by officials, and these fears cannot be dismissed as unfounded. The current act already provides sufficient powers to address the misuse of benefits by certificate holders permitted to accept foreign contributions.
He further noted that the amendment proposes provisions for property seizure, which would include religious places and charitable institutions, regardless of technical issues related to deadlines. It is important to recognize that the bill’s clauses could complicate the operations of organizations selflessly working in education, health, and services for the poor and marginalized, even if no serious wrongdoing has occurred on their part.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this issue is linked to the concerns of religious groups and minority communities, urging the Prime Minister to intervene promptly and initiate the withdrawal of the property seizure provisions in the amendment bill, as adequate safeguards already exist in the current law to address violations.