BJD MP welcomes FCRA Bill referral to JPC, calls for greater consultation with minority communities

New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra on Wednesday welcomed the government’s decision to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), saying the panel would provide an “appropriate forum” for a detailed examination of the proposed legislation and allow greater consultation with the Christian and other minority communities.

The Central government’s resolution to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a JPC was accepted by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid massive uproar and protests by Opposition members.

Speaking to reporters, Patra said he had been consistently seeking a detailed examination of the Bill by a Joint Parliamentary Committee and had raised the demand in Parliament two days earlier.

“I welcome the decision of the government to refer the FCRA Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Two days ago, I had demanded that the Joint Parliamentary Committee is the appropriate forum to examine the merits of the FCRA Bill. The Christian community and minority communities had expressed concerns about the rushing through and passing of the FCRA Bill, and therefore, there has been a consistent demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee,” he said.

Patra said several provisions of the proposed legislation required further scrutiny and that there was a need for greater consultation and dialogue with members of the Christian community and other minority groups before the Bill was considered further.

“Coming from the same community, it has been my desire and efforts since the last few days to see that the FCRA Bill goes to the Joint Parliamentary Committee,” he said.

Patra clarified that his support for sending the Bill to the JPC represented his personal position and was not the official stand of his party, the BJD.

“Though this has not been the stand of my party, the BJD, this has been my personal stand, and I believe that with the Joint Parliamentary Committee now entrusted with the responsibility of going into the examination of the legislative scrutiny of the FCRA Bill, the emotions and the apprehensions of the Christian community will be looked after,” Patra said.

He said the referral of the legislation to the JPC would provide an opportunity for the concerns and apprehensions expressed by minority communities to be considered during the legislative scrutiny process.

Patra also welcomed the government’s decision on the grounds that it would prevent the Bill from being passed hastily amid disruptions in the House and instead allow lawmakers more time to understand and examine its provisions.

“So I welcome this decision of the government that, instead of passing it in the din or in a rush, at least they have given time for better understanding and for it to go to the JPC,” he added.

–IANS

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