FCRA Bill 'draconian tool' to target minorities: Ferreira

Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira

MAPUSA
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira has strongly criticised the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, terming it a “draconian legislation” aimed at silencing critics of the government, particularly those from minority communities.
Amid growing opposition across the country over the Centre’s plan to introduce the Bill, Ferreira alleged that the proposed amendments would enable what he described as an “official loot” of properties and assets belonging to NGOs, minority institutions, charitable bodies and even news organisations that do not align with the government.
Drawing a parallel with the Goa Escheats, Forfeiture and Bona Vacantia Act, 2024, he claimed the new FCRA amendments could be used as a tool to “grab properties and jail people.”
He warned that organisations whose licences for receiving foreign funds are not renewed – either due to rejection or procedural delays – could face cancellation of registration, leading to their assets being vested with a designated authority.
“The law goes beyond foreign-funded assets. It allows seizure of properties irrespective of whether they were acquired fully, partly or not at all through foreign contributions,” Ferreira said.
He further expressed concern over provisions that, according to him, leave little scope for rectification.
“Once assets are frozen, organisations will struggle to even fight legal battles. There is also the risk of selective prosecution, where the government can decide whom to target and when,” he alleged, adding that the Bill’s retrospective nature could expose individuals to prosecution years after an alleged offence.
Ferreira said the legislation would have a wide ambit, covering NGOs, charitable hospitals, old-age homes, religious and missionary institutions and media organisations receiving foreign aid, both in India and abroad.
In a sharp critique, he described the Bill as an attempt to “choke dissent and dismantle opposition voices,” alleging that it disproportionately targets minorities and organisations critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
He went so far as to compare the situation to authoritarian regimes, calling it “Emergency by the backdoor.”
Maintaining that existing laws are sufficient to address misuse of foreign funds, Ferreira urged citizens to collectively oppose measures that undermine democratic freedoms.
“It is time to raise our voices and ensure that constitutional values and fundamental rights are upheld,” he said.