Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien urges PM Modi to call all-party meet on Delimitation, FCRA Bills

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to convene an all-party meeting to discuss proposed legislation on delimitation and amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which he described as “draconian” in nature.

“Any legislation related to delimitation has not been included in the parliamentary bulletin listing government business to be taken up during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. However, given your government’s dubious record of mocking parliamentary rules of procedure and conventions, we are cynical about your intentions,” wrote O’Brien in the letter.

The Trinamool leader also cited previous examples of bills that were sent to the MPs at the last minute before being included in the Supplementary List of Business. He urged the PM not to resort to that tactic in case of the Delimitation and FCRA bills.

“May I cite just one of many examples. The J&K Reorganisation Bill 2019, which stripped J&K of its statehood, was included in the Supplementary List of Business which reached MPs at 11.18 am. Incredulously, the Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha at 11.07 am, eleven minutes before the Supplementary List of Business was circulated!” O’Brien wrote.

According to him, “Delimitation concerns the very structure of India’s polity, and the future of our democracy. The Union government must refrain from using cloak and dagger tactics while introducing such a vital piece of legislation. It is important to note that the Union introduced The Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, along with The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, and The Delimitation Bill on 16 April 2026 in Lok Sabha. On 17 April, the Bill failed to get the two-third majority, and was negatived.”

He further wrote, “One of the bills listed in the bulletin for consideration and passing in the upcoming Session is the draconian Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill (FCRA) 2026, introduced in Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026. The FCRA Bill risks weakening and destroying institutions that have served India’s poorest and marginalised communities for decades in the education and health sector.”

He continued, “This includes 54,000 educational institutions administered by the Christian community, nurturing six crore students, from all communities, every year, across the nation. The Bill seeks to establish excessive executive control over many organisations doing great work for the upliftment of society. Internationally reputed organisations doing yeoman charitable work will also be adversely affected by this proposed draconian legislation. Also, Articles 19 and 26 of our great Constitution must be protected.”

IANS