Amid an intensified push by the Bharatiya Janata Party to woo the Christian electorate in Kerala ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill 2026 has sparked strong resistance from Church leadership and major political parties alike.
Several bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, the largest Eastern Catholic Church, have openly criticised the Bill, describing its provisions as dangerous and alarming. Leaders across denominations have also flagged concerns over what they see as executive overreach into minority institutions.
Among the most vocal has been Mar Andrews Thazhath, who warned that recent Union government actions, including the FCRA Bill and the scheduling of examinations and election duties during Holy Week, are fuelling a sense of insecurity among Christians. He strongly objected to provisions that would allow the government to take over assets of organisations whose licences are cancelled or not renewed.
“These changes create deep concern. They could severely disrupt institutions that have long served society,” he said, adding that there are fears the law could be misused, much like anti-conversion laws that critics say have been deployed against minorities. “The Christian community fears these provisions could be weaponised,” he noted.
He also pointed out that the proposed rules could hamper welfare initiatives and affect organisations working in human rights, women’s safety and social development. If concerns remain unaddressed, he warned, the Church would be compelled to organise strong resistance.
‘Double standards’
Echoing similar concerns, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, cautioned that the Bill could trigger protests. “The new Bill is creating serious difficulties for the Orthodox Church. We raised the issue with BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, but to no avail. There is also a growing suspicion of double standards on the part of the BJP,” he said.
He maintained that the existing law is adequate to address irregularities and stressed that the Orthodox Church has consistently complied with all legal requirements.
With elections approaching, the issue has swiftly taken on political overtones. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to withdraw provisions related to asset takeover. He argued that the current law already provides sufficient safeguards against misuse and warned that the proposed amendments could allow the takeover of assets, including places of worship and charitable institutions, even over technical lapses.
Parties’ reaction
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] also termed the Bill draconian, alleging that it seeks to weaken the institutional foundations of minority communities and civil society.
The Congress too has strongly opposed the move. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal described it as a “sword of Damocles” hanging over minorities and charitable organisations. “This is an attempt by the Modi government to intimidate and bring Christian churches under its control,” he said.
Spreading fear: BJP
Facing mounting criticism ahead of the elections, the BJP has moved into damage-control mode. Shone George, the party’s State vice-president and head of its Christian outreach in Kerala, accused both the LDF and UDF of deliberately spreading fear among Christians.
“The attempt is to create unnecessary panic and misinformation among minorities. Similar fears were raised during the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the Waqf Amendment Act by the INDIA bloc, including the Congress and the Left. But it has since been proven that these laws do not infringe upon minority rights. The same holds true for the Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment Bill 2026 as well,” he said.
He added that Mr. Chandrasekhar has already taken up the matter with the BJP Central leadership. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, has assured the State leadership that all concerns will be addressed before any final decision is made.
Published – March 30, 2026 08:59 pm IST
