SHILLONG, AUG 7: The Congress party in Meghalaya will take out a peaceful march in Shillong on coming Monday to protest the Centre’s proposed amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), warning that it could affect missionary-run institutions across the Northeast.
Congress leader Eugene Jarain today said the proposed amendment was a contentious and sensitive issue that needs immediate public attention.
The BJP government is preparing to pass an amendment to the FCRA any time soon. To pass the law, it only needs 10 per cent attendance in the House and just over 50 per cent of those present to vote, Jarain said.
He said institutions that have shaped education and healthcare in the region are at risk.
A large number of people in the Northeast have been educated in missionary schools and born in missionary hospitals. These institutions, which have helped raise the standard of living in the region, now stand to be under threat under the amendment proposed by the NDA government, he said.
The march will begin at 11 am on Monday from Laitumkhrah Fire Brigade Ground and conclude at Don Bosco Square.
It will be a silent and peaceful march, with no ruckus. Eminent speakers will explain the provisions of the proposed amendment to the public, Jarain said.
He urged citizens to read the Bill themselves.
People should go online, check reliable sources and AI platforms, and understand what the proposed amendment says and how it is worded. They should be aware and prepared, he said.
Jarain clarified that the protest is not political.
He said the issue concerns everyone, noting that for 70 to 80 years since Independence, people have depended on missionary schools, hospitals and printing institutions. He urged the public to study the matter carefully and understand its implications.
