Hundreds of Christians gathered at the Khouchiezie Local Ground, Kohima for a rally organised by the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum on September 12. (Morung Photo)
Holds rally against FCRA Amendments
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 12
Hundreds of Christians gathered at the Khouchiezie Local Ground, Kohima on Saturday for a rally organised by the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) to oppose the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and to reaffirm their commitment to religious freedom and secular democracy.
Addressing the gathering, NJCF president Rev Dr N Paphino said in his keynote address that the rally was neither against India nor the Constitution, but a peaceful and constitutional expression of concern over matters relating to faith, identity and democratic values.
“We are here because we believe in the Constitution, in democracy, in freedom of conscience, in religious liberty and in the dignity of every human person,” he said.
Rev Paphino stressed that being Christian and Naga did not make anyone less Indian, saying India's strength lies in its diversity. He maintained that unity should not be confused with uniformity and patriotism should not come at the cost of individual conscience.
On the issue of ‘Vande Mataram’, he said citizens should be free to sing the song voluntarily, while those whose religious beliefs or conscience prevented them from doing so should not be compelled.
He welcomed the reported assurance of the Nagaland government that no one would be forced to sing the national song and urged that the principle be protected in practice without harassment or discrimination.
He also highlighted the contribution of churches and Christian institutions to education, healthcare, social welfare, peacebuilding, youth development and community welfare in Nagaland. Religious freedom, he said, was not a demand for privilege but a constitutional right available to all citizens.
The Reverend further called for dialogue and mutual trust, urging leaders to protect Nagaland's tradition of peaceful coexistence among different communities.
“Unity is not uniformity, faith is not hatred of another faith, and persecution and undermine someone is not victory,” he said, adding India would be stronger when its citizens respected one another's faith, identity and conscience.
“The strongest nation is not the nation that makes everyone the same, but the nation that gives every community the confidence and freedom to remain who they are while contributing to the common good,” he stated.
FCRA - From Regulation to ‘Acquisition’
Speaking on the proposed FCRA Amendment Bill, Toshiba O Longkumer, Advocate, Gauhati High Court, raised concerns over provisions that he said could result in the government taking control of assets created through foreign contributions.
Longkumer said the proposed amendment fundamentally changes the character of the existing FCRA, describing it as moving from a regulatory framework towards what he termed an “acquisition” mechanism.
He pointed particularly to provisions concerning assets of organisations whose FCRA certificates are cancelled, surrendered or allowed to lapse. According to him, the proposed provisions could allow such assets to vest with a designated authority, which could take possession, manage or transfer them, or sell them with the proceeds going to the Consolidated Fund of India.
He also expressed concern over the proposed automatic vesting of assets when an FCRA certificate is not renewed, arguing that organisations could face such consequences without prior judicial adjudication.
Longkumer further raised questions over due process, freedom of association and property rights, arguing that the proposed provisions could have serious implications for churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages and other charitable institutions dependent on foreign contributions.
Presenting data, Longkumer informed that as of July 2026, there are 14,449 active FCRA certificates, 22,498 cancelled and 15,212 test expired, out of which, he said, 90% of the cancellation is of Christian institutions.
“And this contradicts the government's claim that the bill is religion neutral but I say it is religion specific,” he asserted.
To this end, he urged church and civil society leaders to become more familiar with FCRA regulations and organise training and awareness programmes. He also called on administrators, organisation office-bearers and pastors to remain vigilant about compliance requirements.
“The government says it is about regulation, but we see it as control. They say it is for transparency, but we know it is control. They say it is about national security, but we see it targeting our schools, churches, hospitals, orphanages and nursing homes,” Longkumer said, urging people not to remain silent on what he described as a matter affecting the present and future of their institutions.
The rally concluded with appeals for peace, constitutional rights, religious freedom and the preservation of Nagaland's social harmony, and a mass intercession prayer.
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