Lok Sabha sends FCRA bill to JPC, Kerala renamed Keralam

The Story in Brief

Lok Sabha on Wednesday referred the controversial Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee by voice vote, amid opposition protests that it targets minorities. The panel, comprising members from both Houses, must submit its report by the first week of the winter session. Parliament also passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, renaming the state to Keralam. The monsoon session witnessed repeated adjournments as opposition parties demanded a debate on the NEET exam controversy and the students’ protest in Jharkhand. Home Minister Amit Shah offered to discuss the police action on student protesters, but the opposition declined, with Rahul Gandhi saying they are ‘not interested in a lecture’.

The government, through Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, rejected the anti-minority charge and challenged opposition leaders to cite a single provision against minorities. He said foreign money cannot enter India without laws. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav countered that no Modi government bill has been pro-minority, while Congress demanded full withdrawal of the bill. The probe report on allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma was also presented in both Houses.