The Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM), an alliance of Christian denominations, organised a protest march in Aizawl on Tuesday opposing the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Thousands of people, including representatives and members of churches and Christian organisations, participated in the rally. The participants expressed concern over provisions of the proposed FCRA Amendment Bill and called for wider consultation with churches, NGOs and other stakeholders who could be directly affected by the changes.
The CCM appealed to the Union Government to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), saying this would allow the concerns and practical inputs of stakeholders to be examined before the legislation is finalised.
Meanwhile, the North East India Christian Council (NEICC) expressed solidarity with the CCM and extended prayerful support for the protest march. In a message to the CCM General Secretary, NEICC President Rev. Dr. Lalfakzuala and General Secretary Rev. Dr. Meyu Changkiri said the concerns of churches over legislation that could affect their “freedom, witness, and service to society” deserved to be heard with seriousness, fairness and due consideration.
The NEICC supported the CCM’s “peaceful and democratic expression” of its concerns and prayed that the march would be peaceful and purposeful.
The council also urged the CCM leadership to remain steadfast in its position while continuing its Christian witness. It said the concerns raised by churches should receive a “fair and respectful hearing” from the authorities.
The protest comes amid growing concern among church bodies and civil society organisations in the Northeast over the proposed changes to the FCRA and their potential implications for organisations engaged in charitable and social-service activities.
