Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Aizawl: Mizoram BJP officials lashed out at church leaders on Friday, August 14. They accused religious figures of pushing misinformation about the proposed Foreign Contribution Regulation Act Amendment Bill. State BJP general secretary Delson Notlia stood before reporters in Aizawl. He claimed these leaders misled the public about the law.
The Bill hit the Lok Sabha on March 25. It aims to boost transparency and stop foreign money from funding threats to national security. Critics fear Section 16A. This rule could let officials seize assets if an organization loses its registration. Notlia rejected these fears as groundless. He noted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with a delegation, including Chief Minister Lalduhoma and church leaders, on August 6 to address these anxieties.
Shah told the group the law won't act retroactively. Registrations canceled before the 2026 changes remain safe from new seizure rules. Notlia pointed to government data from 2025 to 2026. India received Rs 17,000 crore in foreign funds, with Christian groups taking in under 15 per cent, roughly Rs 3,000 crore. Mizoram BJP president K Beichhua presented a formal letter to Shah regarding these worries on July 13.
Tensions flared after an August 11 rally in Aizawl. Rev Dr R Lalbiakliana, president of the Council of Churches in Mizoram, told the crowd that authorities could seize schools, hospitals, and churches even if built with local money. Notlia slammed the narrative as a dangerous fabrication. He stated, "There is no such provision in the FCRA Amendment Bill," calling the claims unfortunate.
The BJP also blasted the state Congress party. They argue the opposition is dragging the church into partisan fights for political gain. The Bill currently sits with a Joint Parliamentary Committee while protests continue.
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