Kathmandu— Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Indian government Monday over the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, questioning why restrictions are placed on foreign money coming into the country while no similar limitations exist for Indian wealth going abroad. Speaking to ANI, Yadav alleged that the bill is selectively used against minorities and serves primarily to benefit wealthy individuals, despite a significant outflow of capital from India. The proposed legislation aims to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, with stated goals of increasing transparency and accountability in foreign funding regulation.

Allegations of Double Standards

Yadav claimed that while the government restricts incoming foreign funds, it fails to address the outflow of Indian money. He questioned why restrictions haven’t been imposed on capital leaving the country, suggesting a disparity in enforcement. “The government should first disclose how much of India's money flows abroad,” Yadav said. “There are restrictions on bringing foreign funds in, yet there are no curbs on how much Indian money goes out…”

Claims of Bias and Benefit to Wealthy

The Samajwadi Party chief accused the ruling BJP government of prioritizing the interests of wealthy individuals, stating they have prospered since the party came into power. He suggested that laws like the FCRA are used selectively to target minority groups or create a perception of action against terrorism and terror financing while failing to address the larger issue of Indian wealth leaving the country.

Details of the Proposed Bill

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, reintroduced in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session, seeks to amend the existing Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The bill proposes establishing a Designated Authority to oversee foreign contributions and assets when an entity’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapses. It also mandates maintaining the religious character of any place of worship among such assets and reduces the maximum penalty for violations from five years' imprisonment to one year.

Ministry of Home Affairs data indicates that between 2019 and 2022, 13,520 entities received foreign remittances totaling Rs 55,741 crore. As of July 15, 2026, there were 14,449 active FCRA registrations, with 22,498 cancelled and 15,212 expired.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.