Shillong, June 30: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the state government will take up concerns over the amended Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, flagging a provision that allows a designated authority to take over assets if FCRA renewal is not done.
Sangma said he will seek an appointment with the Home Minister in the first week of July, following a meeting with church leaders on June 27 to discuss the issue.
Referring to his recent meeting with church leaders, he said, “We discussed different details of the FCRA.”
Stating that the Home Minister had asked for specific inputs, Sangma pointed to Clause 5 of Section 16(a) in the new amended Bill as a key concern.
“So, just to mention, Para 16(a), Section 5 of the new amended Bill mentions about the designated authority, and it says that if renewal is not done, the designated authority can take over all the assets,” he said.
“So, Clause 5 of Section 16(a) is of great concern for us. So we discussed all of that and we have decided to go to Delhi, and we will seek an appointment with the Home Minister,” he added.
The Chief Minister said a positive response on the appointment with the Home Minister is expected from his office in the next 4–5 days.
Informing that church leaders are preparing a formal memorandum, taking views from different denominations, to be submitted to the Home Minister.
The aim, Sangma said, is to ensure the Act does not adversely impact religious institutions.
“…at least find a way so that this particular new FCRA Act does not damage the overall, different religious institutions, especially the Christian institutions which have been contributing and working for many years towards the overall development of our state,” he said.
