The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has urged the state government to convene a special session of the Assembly to adopt an official resolution opposing the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, while calling on Chief Minister Lalduhoma to take direct leadership in resisting the legislation.
The proposed amendment, introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session, has been listed for consideration and passage in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Bill has sparked concern in Christian-majority Mizoram, where many fear it could adversely affect minority institutions, particularly Christian organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Addressing a press conference in Aizawl, MPCC general secretary Lalbiakzama welcomed the chief minister’s recent meeting with church leaders, during which it was decided to submit a memorandum to the Centre. However, he said the responsibility of representing the state’s concerns should rest with the government rather than church bodies alone.
Lalbiakzama said the state government and the chief minister should provide executive leadership and directly pursue the demands of the people instead of relying on church leaders to spearhead the opposition.
The Congress also referred to its “Black Day” protest held on July 21 against the proposed amendment, alleging that the legislation is intended to restrict the functioning and rights of Christian organisations.
The party called on the government to immediately summon a special session of the Assembly and pass a resolution rejecting the Bill. It further urged Lalduhoma to personally lead a delegation comprising church leaders, political parties and civil society organisations to New Delhi to convey Mizoram’s opposition to the proposed legislation.
The MPCC also appealed to the state’s Members of Parliament to actively participate in the parliamentary debate and vote against the Bill. Mizoram is represented by one member each in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, both belonging to the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which is aligned with neither the Congress-led INDIA bloc nor the BJP-led NDA.
The Congress alleged that the NDA government has increasingly used regulatory restrictions and what it described as flimsy grounds under FCRA rules to disrupt foreign funding meant for Christian organisations and charitable institutions in the region.
In addition, the party raised concerns over other proposed central legislative measures, including proposals relating to the mandatory standing or singing of “Vande Mataram” at official functions. It argued that certain verses referring to Hindu deities could affect the religious freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, while noting that Mahatma Gandhi and senior Congress leaders had earlier ensured that such verses were omitted when the song was performed.
