‘Can’t always doubt foreign funding’: Sule opposes FCRA bill in present form, seeks JPC scrutiny

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Saturday opposed the FCRA bill in its present form, saying one cannot always view foreign funding with suspicion, and urged the Centre to either withdraw it or refer it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

Sule told the media here that all political parties should be given an opportunity to discuss the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, amid reports that it will be taken up for discussion and passage in Parliament next week. She also compared foreign funding to money sent home by Indians living abroad. The Baramati MP cautioned the government against rushing it through Parliament.

“We reject and disagree with the present form of the FCRA bill. If the government is not ready to withdraw the bill, then it should send it to a JPC. In a strong democracy, merely opposing something is not enough; we also have to sit together and discuss it,” she said.

According to Sule, one can’t always doubt foreign funding, and it should not automatically be viewed with suspicion, maintaining that action should be taken if funds are linked to illegal activities like drug trafficking or terrorism.

Sule said foreign funds could also support legitimate medical and educational work in India. She also drew parallels between foreign funding and money sent home by Indians living abroad. “There are organisations such as the Gates Foundation and USAID that have been doing good work for many years. Why should we look at every foreign-funded organisation with a bad eye?” she said.

The FCRA bill provides for a comprehensive framework for vesting, supervision, management and disposal of foreign contributions and assets in a ‘designated authority’, including provisional and permanent vesting. Critics have argued that it will shift the law from regulating foreign money to controlling independent organisations.

On the proposed delimitation legislation, Sule said it would be premature to comment as the bill had not yet been introduced. “When it comes, we will discuss every Bill with our alliance partners,” she said.

Sule welcomed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent comments about the younger generation and said political parties should listen to them.

“I thank RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for recognising how honest this new generation is. I welcome his statement. I would be happy if the BJP also listens to what he has said,” she said.

On protests by youths, Sule claimed that the new generation can speak freely because it does not depend on the government for jobs, contracts or other benefits.

“These young people are educated. They do not have a problem with the IAS, Income Tax, CBI or ED. They do not want contracts. Since they have none of these interests, they are able to speak freely about what they believe is true,” she said. Sule accused the Maharashtra government of adopting an election-centric approach, referring to “conditions” attached to assistance for farmers.

“When elections come, decisions are taken with both hands open. Once elections are over and they are in power, they hold their hands tight,” she said.

Amid criticism by the Opposition, the Maharashtra cabinet last month approved significant changes to its latest farm loan waiver scheme, removing key eligibility conditions, including the previous Rs 50,000 upper limit applicable for the beneficiaries of the 2019 waiver.

On the legal battles involving the NCP and Shiv Sena, Sule questioned the decisions relating to the ownership of political parties and their symbols.

Referring to the Shiv Sena case, she said Bal Thackeray had founded the party and had given responsibility to Uddhav Thackeray during his lifetime.

“When the founder himself had decided who his successor would be, how can the party be handed over to somebody else? Every political party has its own constitution. The party organisation cannot simply be ignored while deciding who controls a political party,” Sule said.

The Supreme Court is presently continuing with the final hearing on the pleas of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction against the Election Commission’s decision recognising the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the “real Shiv Sena”.

The NCP (SP) and Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) are partners in the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi.

She said their legal battle over the NCP, which has also been split into two factions, was continuing and alleged that the matter had been delayed. “Sharad Pawar is the founder president of the NCP and injustice has been done to him. We have been asking for a date for a long time, but why are we not getting a date?” she said.

Sule also criticised what she described as the selective use of institutions against opposition parties and warned of long-term consequences.

On the controversy over the “gungi gudiya” remark concerning Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Sule called it inappropriate and said that she had spoken to the Congress leadership.

“I thank the Congress leadership publicly. Within half an hour of my speaking to them, the Congress leadership made it clear that the statement made locally on social media in Maharashtra was not the official position of the Congress,” she said.

Sule said political criticism should not become personal or insulting.

Urging all sides to move on, Sule said the country and Maharashtra faced “bigger economic challenges”.

She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to meet the NCP (SP) MPs on Monday to discuss issues related to their constituencies since “Parliament is not functioning”.