A delegation of Leaders of Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic Churches (in the fellowship of the CBCI, NCCI and EFI) and Leaders of leading Christian Missions met the Union Home Minister Shri. Amit Shah in Parliament House yesterday evening (6th August 2026). The meeting lasted for an hour. Top officials of the MHA were also present.
The delegation made it’s demand that the bill NOT BE PASSED without addressing the concerns relating to deemed cessation, prescribed use of assets ‘seized’ by the vesting authority, violation of rights enshrined in the Constitution including relating to setting up and managing institutions by religious minorities, introduction of administrative and judicial processes affirming principle of natural justice, and those that perpetuate from the 2010 Act particularly that a mere FIR on a trustee can lead to cancellation of the registration.
Alternately, the leaders also placed on record the demand that the Bill introduced as early as March 2026 BE REFERRED TO A COMPETENT BODY under the Constitution that will take into consideration concerns of all rights holders, duty bearers and stakeholders, including that of the Government’s alleged objective ‘to enhance transparency and accountability of public funds received through overseas funding with conditions and for specific purposes’, before being taken up for discussion in the Parliament. The leaders opined that this will affirm the stand of the Union Government that the bill is not against any one community nor has a hidden agenda of abrogation of properties and take over of management of institutions owned/ run by minority communities.
Despite an initial hesitation that the Christian community’s concerns were unfounded and based on the community’s misconception that the act was only against the Christian community, Honourable Home Minister subsequently understood that the concerns were real and listened to the apprehensions and anxieties of the leaders over the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 with keen interest and a seemingly open mind.
The Home Minister, stressing that the proposed bill is ‘religion-neutral’, assured the delegation that the demands of the Christian community will be taken into consideration, and if required and appropriately advised the Union Government will have no hesitation to even amend the 2010 Act as desired.
On being appraised that there were instances of cancellations of the FCRA registrations without following due processes of serving notice or prior hearing, the Honourable Home Minister directed that they be brought to his notice at once for redressal.
The National Council of Churches in India is grateful to the Honourable Home Minister, Government of India, for the opportunity to brief him on the demands of the community. The meeting echoed the sentiments of the supreme leadership of the NCCI Member Churches expressed in the Heads of Churches Conclave that was held in Bengaluru on 4th August 2026, ahead of the Home Minister’s meeting yesterday.
HG Dr. Yuhannon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church also representing the President and the Vice Presidents of the NCCI, Rt. Rev. Dr. A. Joshuva Peter, Executive Secretary, United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India and Treasurer NCCI, Rev. Dr. Asir Ebenezer, General Secretary NCCI, Most Rev. Dr. Ruben Mark, Moderator of the Church of South India, Adv. Fernandis Rethinaraja General Secretary CSI, Rev. Dr. Ajit Kumar General Secretary Church of North India, Rt. Rev. Paul Swarup, Bishop CNI Diocese of Delhi also representing the Moderator CNI, Rt. Rev. Zacharias Mar Aprem Episcopa, Bishop of the Diocese of Delhi of the Marthoma Syrian Church also representing it’s Metropolitan, Adv. Malthyus D Sangma, Peace and Justice Secretary of the Council of Baptist Churches of the North East India represented the 19 million Christians of the NCCI constituency in the 17-member delegation to the Home Minister.
Shri P Wilson Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha, Chair of the Joint Action Forum on Minorities, and Convenor of the forum Shri John Samuel, Former Post Master General, coordinated the meeting and facilitated the discussion with the Home Minister on behalf of the Christian communities cutting across all regions, denominations and sectors of Christian social engagement.
Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary, NCCI.
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