SHILLONG: James P.K. Sangma and Javed Ali Khan have been nominated by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as “special invitees” to join the 31-member joint parliamentary committee to examine the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The first meeting of the panel is scheduled on Friday with Sanjay Jaiswal, MP of the Lok Sabha appointed as the Chairperson of the joint committee.
Conrad K Sangma welcoming the initiative took to a post on X saying, “This is an important representation for Meghalaya and the Christian community, ensuring that the perspectives and concerns of religious organizations are heard and considered in the deliberations on legislation that has implications for civil society organizations and institutions working across the country.”
Former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achari told PTI that under Rule 299 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, MPs who are not members of a committee can attend its deliberations but cannot address the panel or sit among its members.
Achari said MPs with special interests or expertise in a particular field can be appointed as special invitees. They can sit alongside officials during committee meetings but cannot sit with the committee members, he said.
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The proposed amendment to the FCRA Bill was introduced on March 25, 2026. It proposed for a designated authority to safeguard foreign-funded assets when a registration lapses or is cancelled. The notified FCRA Amendment Rules links registration to specified purposes and approved States/UTs, excludes proselytisation from permitted religious activity.
Concerned with the proposed amendment, Sangma, along with a delegation of Meghalaya-based Christian leaders called on Union home minister Amit Shah on July 5, 2026. They focused on Section 16A(5) of the amendment, which empowers the designated authority to take over or dispose of assets, including buildings, schools, hospitals, and land, that were created with foreign contributions in cases where an organization’s registration is cancelled or not renewed.
The delegation drew attention to how this can adversely affect the functioning of diverse administrations in Meghalaya, where such institutions run a large number of schools, colleges, hospitals, and community service programmes serving people across the State, particularly in rural and remote areas.
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The government of Meghalaya on August 14, 2026 also announced that the state aims to establish a dedicated FCRA cell within the home department. Speaking on the matter, Sangma stated, “The purpose of this cell will be to help coordinate with the central government and find an effective way to address different problems faced by our organisations when it comes to renewals and applications, here in Shillong, without having to travel to distant places like Delhi.”
He added, “While the procedures to monitor and regulate foreign currency are being followed, our people should not suffer or face difficulties and challenges, or have their assets seized. Striking a balance between these two needs is really the need of the hour.”
Mmhonlumo Kikon, the national general secretary of the National People’s Party (NPP) also supported the initiative in a post on X saying, “What began with Conrad Sangma taking the initiative to raise serious concerns over the proposed FCRA amendments with the Government of India has now reached an important stage.”
“The nomination of James Sangma, MP, brings that sustained engagement to a logical and meaningful stage, ensuring that the concerns raised from Meghalaya and the Northeast now have a voice at the very table examining the legislation, ” he added.
