Shillong, August 10: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee held a peaceful protest march in Shillong on Monday against proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The party claims that these changes could severely impact churches, educational institutions, hospitals, NGOs, and other organizations that rely on foreign donations for their operations.
A large number of Congress workers participated in the demonstration, carrying party flags and placards while chanting slogans against the proposed FCRA amendment bill.
Senior Congress leader Vincent H. Pala addressed the protesters, alleging that the BJP has issued a whip to its members, indicating that the proposed law could be presented in Parliament before the scheduled recess on August 13.
Pala stated, “The BJP has issued a whip, and it is likely that they will present the bill today, tomorrow, or the day after.” He described the proposed law as “one of the most dangerous bills in history,” asserting that many of its provisions could adversely affect institutions that depend, even partially, on foreign contributions.
He specifically raised concerns about Clause 16A, claiming that if an organization’s FCRA registration is not renewed, is canceled, or voluntarily surrendered, their properties could be seized.
“This is a bill where if you fail to renew your FCRA, or if they cancel your FCRA, or if you surrender your FCRA, they will seize your property,” he asserted. Pala emphasized that this provision could impact entire properties, even if only a small portion of their funding came from foreign contributions, with the remainder sourced locally.
He added, “If your church receives even a minimal percentage of funding, or if your school receives a small percentage, or if any property receives a small percentage, the entire property could be seized.”
The Congress leader clarified that the party is not against regulations aimed at preventing the misuse of foreign contributions. He noted that the FCRA has been in effect for several decades but argued that the proposed amendments could extend beyond the intended scope of regulating foreign funding.
Pala also made it clear that this protest is not against the central government or the nation. He emphasized that India’s strength lies in the cooperation of its diverse communities and institutions.
“We are not against the Government of India; we are not against India,” he stated. The march traversed several areas of Shillong, as the Meghalaya Congress aims to build public sentiment against the proposed amendments before they are considered in Parliament.
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