CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday strongly condemned the proposed amendment Bill to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by the BJP-led union government and alleged that it was a direct attack on Christian NGOs, churches and other minority institutions. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the Bill immediately.
The CM, in a post on ‘X’, said after attempts to take over Waqf properties, the centre is now trying to choke foreign funding for minority institutions. “Despite stepping back for now due to opposition protests and upcoming elections in Kerala, where Christians live in large numbers, there are clear plans to push FCRA through a special session of Parliament,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi, in a post on ‘X’, said, “The Constitution guarantees equal rights to all religions. We, the members of the Secular Progressive Alliance, will not allow any attempt to undermine that right. The centre must immediately withdraw this amendment.”
TVK general secretary N Anand, in a statement, said the Bill aims to weaken minority-run educational and medical institutions that serve lakhs of people. Amid pressing issues such as economic distress caused by Gulf tension, which has disrupted petroleum supplies and driven up prices of essential commodities, the centre is prioritising this Bill, he said.
Plea seeks ECI to bar Dalit Christians from contesting in SC seats
Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath has moved the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to ensure only the Scheduled Caste persons who have not converted to Christianity to contest in reserved constituencies for SCs.
He said that 90% of the candidates announced by political parties for the 44 SC reserved constituencies do not profess Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism, and have converted to Christianity. He prayed for the court to issue directions to the State CEO to advice the returning officers in the state to strictly scrutinise the nomination papers of candidates in SC reserved constituencies.