# FCRA Bill sent to JPC as Church, North East CMs react 2026-08-13T07:15:50+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The Centre has referred the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The move drew sharply divided reactions. The Catholic Church and Christian NGOs called the Bill 'draconian' and demanded its withdrawal, warning it allows state seizure of unutilised foreign funds and assets of charitable, educational and religious institutions. Archbishop Oswald Cardinal Gracias wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah urging wider consultation. Auxiliary bishop Savio Fernandes questioned if it is 'regulation or state control'. In contrast, the chief ministers of Mizoram and Nagaland, Lalduhoma and Neiphiu Rio, welcomed the JPC reference. The Assam Christian Forum also called it a democratic step. The Bill's critics say it weaponises FCRA to harass NGOs and acquire their properties, especially in states with anti-conversion laws. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - thehindu.com Tags: Amit Shah, Catholic Church, Christian NGOs, FCRA Bill, foreign funding, Joint Parliamentary Committee Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/church-christian-ngos-urge-withdrawal-of-fcra-bill/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/church-christian-ngos-urge-withdrawal-of-fcra-bill/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.