Shillong: Tura Congress MP Saleng A. Sangma met with Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday. He warned the Rajya Sabha Chairman that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill poses a grave threat to Christian institutions. The amendments would cause devastating effects for missionary schools, colleges, and charity homes. This is particularly true across the Northeast.
Sangma led a delegation of Parliamentarians to demand further review. They asked the government to pause the process. "Along with other Parliamentarians, we discussed at length how the amended Bill will strike at institutions that have long served the poor through foreign contributions," Sangma told reporters. Radhakrishnan promised to examine their concerns.
The Bill hit a wall in Parliament this week. Officials planned to table it Monday. Instead, the Lok Sabha adjourned due to loud protests. Opposition parties, church leaders, and civil society groups remain firmly against the measure. They claim the government seeks to sabotage minority outreach programs.
The law centers on a new designated authority. This body would seize the assets and funds of any group that loses its FCRA registration. Roughly 16,000 associations hold these registrations today. They manage approximately 22,000 crore rupees every year. The government argues the changes prevent fraud and religious conversion, but critics see a targeted attack. The entire Northeast continues to push back against the proposal.
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