NEW DELHI: The Joint Action Forum on Minorities that had led a delegation of representatives of Churches to meet Home Minister Amit Shah last week described the decision of the govt to refer the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 to a Joint Parliamentary Committee as a “positive step” that presents an “important opportunity for a comprehensive, clause-by-clause review of its provisions and their implications”.A host of Church bodies last week met and urged home minister Amit Shah to either withdraw the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill or send it to a joint parliamentary committee for scrutiny.In their representation to HM, the delegation representing Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Churches from across India organised under Joint Action Forum on Minorities with DMK MP P Wilson as its chairperson, had sought that the Bill is withdrawn in entirety or in alternate be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee together with a review of the working of the Principal FCRA Act 2010 itself”.On Wednesday, Wilson in a statement on X thanked DMK President MK Stalin and all opposition parties in the Lok Sabha for their unified demand to withdraw the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, even though it was decided by a majority voice vote to refer it to the Joint Parliamentary Committee.“Although the govt has not agreed to withdraw the FCRA Bill 2026 entirely, the Union Government’s decision to refer the Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee is a positive step,” he added.“This is a sensitive issue where a balance must be struck between the govt’s authority over financial control and the rights of minority institutions to receive charitable contributions. This funding supports schools, colleges, hospitals, and other public service institutions. The government will be unable to fund these activities if contributions cease,” he added.Wilson said that the referral of the Bill to the JPC presents an important opportunity for a comprehensive, clause-by-clause review of its provisions and their implications. “We hope and expect that the Committee will listen to all stakeholders and carefully consider the constitutional, legal, and practical concerns raised by religious, educational, healthcare, charitable, and civil society institutions,” he said.
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The National Council of Churches in India, General Secretary, Asir Ebenezer welcomed the Bill and said that they look forward to engaging with “the JPC as they prepare the report for the Winter session”. NCCI was part of the delegation that met the HM as part of the Joint Action Forum on Minorities.“On behalf of the historic and nationally networked Protestant and Orthodox Churches in India representing the religious and mission aspirations of 19 million Christians we thank the Home Minister and the govt for heeding to the request of the Christian community,” he added.
