‘Avoid cloak-and-dagger tactics’: Derek O’Brien writes to PM Modi on delimitation bill, seeks all-party meet | India News
NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s proposed delimitation legislation and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment bill, describing the measures as ‘draconian’.His letter comes a day before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, with the opposition raising concerns over the Centre’s legislative agenda.In the letter dated July 19, O’Brien said that while no delimitation-related legislation has been listed in the parliamentary bulletin for the Monsoon Session, the opposition remains apprehensive because of what he described as the government’s ‘dubious record’ in handling important legislation.Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill, 2019, he alleged that the legislation was introduced in the Rajya Sabha before the supplementary list of business was circulated to MPs. He urged the government not to adopt similar ‘cloak and dagger tactics’ on an issue as significant as delimitation.O’Brien also referred to the Constitution (131st Amendment) bill, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) bill and the Delimitation bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on April 16 this year. He observed that the bills failed to secure the required two-thirds majority and were negatived the following day.On the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment bill, 2026, O’Brien said the legislation, which is listed for consideration and passage during the Monsoon Session, would weaken institutions working among the country’s poorest and marginalised communities.He claimed that the proposed amendments would adversely affect thousands of educational institutions run by the Christian community as well as internationally reputed charitable organisations by giving the executive excessive control over their functioning.The TMC leader also stressed that Articles 19 and 26 of the Constitution must be protected.Drawing a parallel with the three farm laws that were later repealed, O’Brien urged PM Modi to convene an all-party meeting before proceeding with what he described as another instance of “cowboy legislation”.The issue of delimitation has become a major political flashpoint, with several opposition parties, particularly from southern states, expressing concern that a fresh exercise based on post-2026 population figures could reduce their relative representation in Parliament despite their success in population control.The Centre, however, has maintained that no final decision has been taken on the modalities of the exercise, which cannot begin before the first Census conducted after 2026, in line with the constitutional freeze on delimitation.The proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act have also drawn criticism from opposition parties and sections of civil society, who argue that they could further tighten government oversight of non-governmental organisations and charitable institutions receiving foreign funds. The government has maintained that the changes are aimed at ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the use of foreign contributions.News agency PTI citing sources in the opposition said that TMC MPs would boycott discussions on the allocation of time for the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, during meetings of the Business Advisory Committees (BAC) of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.The party will also press for the proposed legislation to be referred to a parliamentary committee for detailed scrutiny before it is taken up for consideration and passage.
