BJP chief Nitin Nabin targets Rajiv Gandhi Foundation over foreign funding
Synopsis
BJP President Nitin Nabin has directly targeted the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, calling it an organisation 'sustained by foreign funding', and warned that efforts to create a 'mob-based system' in India will fail. The attack lands four years after the Centre cancelled the foundation's FCRA licence — and signals BJP's intent to keep the foreign-funding controversy alive as a political weapon against Congress.
Key Takeaways
BJP President Nitin Nabin on 7 November 2026 accused the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation of being sustained by foreign funding and donations.
Nabin warned that attempts to create a 'mob-based system' in India by replicating developments in other countries would never succeed.
He also attacked the Congress for allegedly aligning with the 'tukde-tukde gang' , questioning the party's national unity credentials.
The Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation's FCRA licence in October 2022 following an inter-ministerial investigation into foreign contributions.
Nabin asserted that India's youth remain committed to development, national security, and cultural heritage — and cannot be misled.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin on Saturday, 7 November accused the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation of being an organisation sustained by foreign funding and donations, asserting that any effort to replicate a 'mob-based system' in India — drawing on developments witnessed in other countries — would never succeed.
What Nabin Said
In an interview, Nabin stated that those attempting to mobilise groups of people to engineer such a system in India would ultimately fail. 'As I stated at the outset, those who attempt to replicate here what has been done in other countries, by gathering groups of people to create a 'mob-based system', will never see their designs succeed,' the BJP President said.
He also appealed to the country's youth, insisting they remain anchored in India's cultural values and national security commitments. 'I have always maintained that the youth of this nation stand with development; they are deeply rooted in the country's cultural values. Alongside development, they remain fully committed to the nation's security and its cultural heritage. If anyone thinks they can mislead the youth by steering them in the wrong direction, they are mistaken; that will never happen,' Nabin added.
Attack on Congress and 'Tukde-Tukde' Charge
Nabin also questioned the Indian National Congress (INC) leadership's claims of promoting national unity, targeting what he described as the party's association with the so-called 'tukde-tukde gang' — a phrase used by BJP leaders to describe groups they allege advocate breaking up India. 'Every time they have attempted such a thing, they have faced a humiliating defeat. How can those who align themselves with the 'tukde-tukde gang' claim to be about 'uniting' the country, and expect the youth to stand with them?' he said.
He went further: 'Can those who run the 'Rajiv Gandhi Foundation' — an organisation sustained by foreign funding and donations — ever hope to shape the political narrative of this nation? It is simply impossible,' Nabin declared.
Background: FCRA Licence Cancellation
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is registered in India as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). In October 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the foundation's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence following an investigation by an inter-ministerial committee.
The foundation had come under scrutiny over allegations relating to contributions received from foreign sources and the flow of funds. The cancellation of the FCRA licence followed the committee's examination of these matters, according to official records. The Congress, which is closely associated with the foundation, has historically contested the characterisation of its funding.
Political Context
Nabin's remarks come amid a broader BJP campaign against the Congress on the foreign-funding front. Critics of the BJP argue that targeting the foundation is a politically motivated move ahead of several state elections. This is not the first time the ruling party has raised the foreign-funding issue — similar allegations were part of BJP's campaign messaging in 2022 and 2024. Notably, the FCRA regime has been used to cancel licences of multiple NGOs across the political spectrum, though opposition parties allege selective enforcement.
As the BJP continues to press the Congress on its institutional associations, the foundation controversy is likely to remain a flashpoint in the run-up to upcoming electoral cycles.
Point of View
Yet BJP chooses to surface it now, suggesting electoral calibration rather than new accountability. The 'mob-based system' framing is notably vague: it gestures at external interference without naming countries or citing evidence, a rhetorical technique that is difficult to fact-check and easy to amplify. What mainstream coverage often misses is that FCRA enforcement has been a contested political instrument, with civil society groups across the ideological spectrum flagging its selective application. The real question is whether these attacks shift voter behaviour or merely consolidate an already-committed BJP base.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP President Nitin Nabin say about the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation?
Nitin Nabin accused the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation of being an organisation sustained by foreign funding and donations, arguing that this disqualifies the Congress from shaping India's political narrative. He made the remarks during an interview on 7 November 2026.
What happened to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation's FCRA licence?
The Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence in October 2022, following an inter-ministerial committee investigation into foreign contributions and fund flows. The foundation is registered as an NGO in India.
What is the 'mob-based system' Nabin referred to?
Nabin used the phrase 'mob-based system' to describe what he alleged were attempts to replicate in India the kind of mass mobilisation seen in certain other countries to destabilise governance. He did not name specific countries or organisations, and the reference was not further elaborated in the available remarks.
What is the 'tukde-tukde gang' charge Nabin raised?
The 'tukde-tukde gang' is a term used by BJP leaders to describe individuals or groups they allege advocate breaking up India. Nabin used it to question how the Congress, which he linked to such elements, could credibly claim to stand for national unity.
Why is this politically significant?
The BJP has repeatedly raised the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation's foreign-funding issue as part of its broader campaign against the Congress. Critics argue the timing and framing serve electoral purposes, while the FCRA regime itself has been contested by civil society groups who allege selective enforcement against political opponents.
