SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) organized a peaceful rally from Madan Fire Brigade to Don Bosco in Shillong to voice strong opposition to the BJP-led Union government’s proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Bill in Parliament.
Led by MPCC President Vincent H. Pala, along with leader Anthony Mawthew and key representatives from the Congress Mahila and Youth wings, the demonstration saw a large turnout of party members.
Addressing the rally, Vincent Pala declared that the proposed changes represent the first direct attack by the BJP government against Christian religious organizations, schools, hospitals, and NGOs since India’s independence.
He emphasized that the protest was not simply a political gesture by the Congress party, but a necessary response to amendments that threaten the welfare of the poor and the future of the youth, who are heavily reliant on services and institutions supported by international aid.
Pala highlighted the drastic reduction in foreign funding permissions, noting that the number of FCRA license holders in India has fallen from about 50,000 to just 14,000 under the current administration. Of these, 2,313 institutions in the Northeast and only 70 in Meghalaya remain active.
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He stressed that FCRA funds are not limited to infrastructure, but are crucial in subsidizing education, reducing hospital bills, and sustaining vital social welfare programs across the region.
He further cautioned that the proposed amendments would grant the government sweeping powers to seize assets or directly control institutions that fail to meet complex compliance requirements or lose their licenses.
While affirming that the Congress party supports financial accountability, he argued that penalties should be directed at specific violators, not imposed as blanket punishments on religious bodies and charitable organizations.
Pala concluded by assuring that the Congress party will continue to challenge the bill both on the streets and inside Parliament to safeguard the rights and interests of the public.
(4FrontMedia news)
