Kohima, August 10 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has opposed any move by the government at the Centre to use the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) against Christian institutions, churches, NGOs and civil society organisations.
In a statement issued by its Communication Department, the NPCC alleged that the FCRA framework was being “weaponised” against Christian institutions and cautioned the Centre against using the law as an “ideological weapon”.
The NPCC said Christian organisations in Nagaland and across India have for decades contributed to education, healthcare and social welfare by running schools, hospitals, orphanages, rehabilitation centres and humanitarian programmes.
The Congress party said it did not oppose transparency or regulation, but objected to what it described as selective scrutiny and administrative harassment. “If the BJP Government believes in transparency, let there be transparency for everyone. But selective scrutiny, arbitrary restrictions and administrative harassment cannot be disguised as ‘regulation’,” the NPCC stated.
It further invoked constitutional provisions protecting equality, freedom of association and religious freedom, arguing that the government cannot determine which faith-based institutions should be subjected to suspicion. “No government, regardless of its parliamentary majority, stands above these constitutional guarantees,” the NPCC added.
The NPCC also highlighted the role of Christian institutions in Nagaland, stating that they have a “long and proud history” of contributing to education, healthcare and social welfare.
The NPCC called on the Centre not to target Christian institutions solely on the basis of their religious identity. “Do not turn FCRA into an ideological weapon. Do not treat Christian institutions as suspects merely because of their faith. And do not mistake political power for constitutional authority,” it stated.
The party maintained that accountability and regulation should apply to wrongdoing rather than legitimate service.
“Regulate wrongdoing—but do not criminalise service. Demand accountability—but do not practise discrimination. The Constitution must prevail over the BJP’s politics,” the statement said. “India belongs equally to every religion and every citizen,” it added.
