Stalin slams FCRA amendment as attack on minority institutions amid Kerala polls

Political tensions around the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Amendment Act intensified as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin asserted that the Centre is moving to push the FCRA amendment through a special Parliament session, despite stepping back temporarily due to opposition protests and the Kerala Assembly elections on April 9. He framed the bill as a direct attack on Christian NGOs, churches, and other minority institutions, warning that foreign funding could be choked for groups serving minority communities.\n\nStalin’s stance found echoes among DMK colleagues and other opposition leaders who stressed constitutional guarantees of equal rights for all religions. DMK MP Kanimozhi posted that the bill’s objective is to block foreign funding for NGOs aiding minority communities, while Congress leaders flagged the move as an attack on minority rights and pledged protests.\n\nOn the government side, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar indicated the Centre might drop the bill but suggested concerns raised by churches would be addressed before any tabling. The timing, critics note, coincides with Kerala’s poll season, prompting fears of political calculations aimed at minority groups in the state.\n\nIn Kerala, church leaders publicly opposed the amendment, triggering a political storm as BJP leaders in the state argued the Centre would factor in church reservations before Parliament. The government has also deferred debate on the FCRA amendment amid Opposition protests, fueling allegations of a targeted move against Christian organisations.\n\nWith Kerala’s elections looming, the controversy over the FCRA amendment shows how foreign funding rules intersect with religion and politics in India. While the government has not withdrawn the measure, it has paused the move, leaving opponents to demand a full withdrawal.

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