Nagaland Joint Christian Forum holds rally for religious freedom, opposes proposed FCRA amendments

While expressing hope that the Centre will listen to the voice of the people, he assured the NJCF would continue to appeal and protest against issues affected the public without resorting to violence.

On the proposed mandatory performance of “Vande Mataram”, Phesao said the Christian community had no objection to the initial stanzas but expressed reservations over the later verses.

"But following the third, fourth stanzas, when you read through the line, it is bowing down to some other deities and in particular that is worshipping idols. And our conscience, our faith does not convince us to do that. And so we will not do that,” he said.

On proposed FCRA amendments

Toshi O Longkumer, Advocate, Gauhati High Court, said the proposed amendments to the FCRA would change the whole character of the parent Act.

Noting that the proposed controversial bill has "loopholes", particularly the absence of any provisions for a proper appeal mechanism, he said there are serious due process concerns in the amendment bill if somebody is aggrieved by a rejection or a cancellation or a non-renewal.

Read more: CM Rio urges wider scrutiny of FCRA Bill, says Nagaland’s concerns must be addressed

However, if the proposed bill is passed and becomes a law, there might come a time where the FCRA will have a direct implication of religious rights, customs and traditions of the Nagas, he added. 

Longkumer further argued that the proposed bill is in “direct violation” of the Constitution of India, including Articles 31A, 300A and 19. Meanwhile, he said that it would not have a direct conflict with Article 371A.

However, he cautioned that if the proposed bill is passed into law, there might come a time when it will have direct for the religious rights, customs and traditions of the Naga people.

Bideno Kikon, Secretary of Christian Education, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), appealed to the Government of India to uphold secularism “in spirit and in action”. She urged that the FCRA be implemented in a manner that is fair, proportionate and transparent.

“Protect every citizen’s right to disagree without being branded as anti-national. This rally is not against any party or government, but it is for the Constitution and for religious freedom,” she said.

‘Regulation must not become persecution’

Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, said the Christian community is not opposed to regulation of foreign contributions but against weaponisation of the bill.

"We are not asking for no regulation. We understand that national security is important. There must be accountability for foreign money. We welcome transparency.

The government must trust its citizens. The citizens are national builders and not nation-breakers. Make laws that are benign, pro-poor and people-friendly," he said.

He urged the centre to stop using FCRA as a weapon to silence dissent and restricting organisations engaged in social service.

Regulation must not become persecution, he said, calling for a transparent and time-bound process for renewal and appeals, along with an opportunity to be heard.

Differentiate between corrupt and genuine legitimate organizations; punish those who misuse funds but do not penalize thousands who serve honestly,’ he added, while calling for dialogue before the enactment of any amendment and appealed to restore FCRA licenses of all genuine NGOs whose work in education, healthcare and development has been established.

Memorandum to the President of India

1. Erosion of constitutional neutrality and ideological equilibrium

"Over the past decade, our nation has witnessed immense pressure from self-serving policies that routinely disregard the cries and concerns of minority communities.

National policies on socio-religious matters are increasingly deviating from the path of constitutional neutrality. This shift undermines the very foundation of our Constitution, which explicitly guarantees freedom of religion and expression. Regrettably, whenever minority communities raise their voices in defense of these rights, they are unfairly labeled as unpatriotic and are ignored," the NCJF stated.

Furthermore, a significant imbalance exists between the political ideologies proclaimed on public platforms and the lived realities of ordinary citizens. Minorities are frequently forced to bear the brunt of decisions engineered behind the scenes by majority interests. It is a distressing reality that those tasked with governing the nation often appear captive to the agendas of these unaccountable factions. Driven by these profound concerns, the NJCF seeks a patient hearing from your Honor.

Also read: Global Naga Forum seeks withdrawal of FCRA Bill, urges JPC scrutiny

2. Infraction upon constitutional religious freedom

Our primary concern centers on fundamental religious freedoms. The Constitution of India guarantees the right to freedom of religion as a core foundational right. The legal definition of this clause is explicit:

It guarantees freedom of conscience and the absolute right to freely profess, practice, and propagate one's faith.

It grants every religious denomination the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, and to manage its own religious affairs without state overreach

3. FCRA imbroglio and the narrative of suspicion

Against the backdrop of these constitutional guarantees, we must address the ongoing challenges surrounding the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The current friction heavily targets minority religious groups—specifically Christian institutions. This scrutiny stems from an unsubstantiated narrative and mere suspicion that foreign funds are being utilized for forced conversions.

This narrative is entirely groundless. Christian institutions run charitable organizations dedicated exclusively to the welfare of the marginalized, impoverished, and downtrodden masses of our country. Our work serves as a vital extension of the nation's social welfare infrastructure, complementing—rather than conflicting with—the state's developmental efforts over the decades.

4. Demand for JPC independence and grassroots engagement

While we appreciate that parliament has referred these matters to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), this step alone does not guarantee a resolution. Because the committee operates under an official mandate, there are valid concerns regarding the ultimate transparency of its findings

Therefore, we urge your Honor to ensure that the JPC is allowed to independently engage with all relevant stakeholders. Stakeholders must include not only institutional heads and sponsors but also the grassroots beneficiaries who rely on these charitable services. The feelings of ordinary citizens are vital. We respectfully request that the committee be permitted to present entirely independent, uncompromised findings to the House. They must be allowed to travel to far flung areas for consultations to listen to the heart beat of the ordinaries. Policies should not only be drafted by looking at the files and entering into the chambers that serve with hospitality of comfort.

5. A call for impartial and universal law enforcement

The NJCF does not demand lenient treatment or a dilution of the FCRA. On the contrary, we believe the law must remain stringent and meticulous. Organizations that abuse the system or divert funds from their illegitimate, stated purposes must be penalized or have their licenses revoked.

However, enforcement must not selectively target Christian institutions. It is a known fact that religious organizations of various faiths across the country receive foreign funding, and some openly abuse the system. As the government tightens regulatory loopholes, it must do so with strict impartiality, ensuring that organizations backed by majority groups face the same scrutiny.

6. Concerns regarding the compulsory chanting of Vande Mataram

The second issue of profound concern relates to directives mandating the compulsory participation of individuals in chanting Vande Mataram as a required mark of patriotism. Not all Indians are Hindu. Therefore, chanting Vande Mataram has deeply touched the sentiment of the Christian community in a Christian majority state.

The mandate has deeply troubled the Nagas and the broader Christian community. Genuine patriotism is born out of voluntary civic respect, not forced recitations.

While certain religious traditions may have no conflict with invoking polytheistic deities or deifying the land, India must remain sensitive to its identity as a vast subcontinent of diverse, ancient faiths. The people of Nagaland belong to a predominantly Christian state. Our faith is anchored in strict biblical monotheism, which requires that acts of worship, spiritual adoration, and religious chanting be directed exclusively to the Triune God. Because elements of Vande Mataram explicitly deify the land, forcing Christian students, teachers, and public servants to recite it compels them to violate their conscience and primary spiritual allegiance, causing severe distress. When our sentiments and feelings are hurt, our sense of patriotism vanishes. We, therefore, call upon you to hear out our hurt!

7. Constitutional violations and legal precedent

This mandatory directive stands in direct contradiction to robust constitutional safeguards guaranteed to religious minorities:

Article 25: Guarantees the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess and practice one's religion.

Article 28(3): Explicitly protects individuals in state-funded educational institutions from being forced to participate in religious instruction or worship

Judicial Precedent: The Supreme Court of India upheld this precise right to silent, respectful non-participation in the landmark Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala (1986) case, ruling that forced participation in such recitations violates fundamental rights.

Read more: North East India Christian Council welcomes FCRA Bill referral to JPC

8. Proposal for a peaceful compromise

Our objection to this mandate is strictly a matter of theological conviction and religious conscience. It must not be misinterpreted as a lack of civic duty or patriotism toward our motherland.

We respectfully urge Your Honor to reconsider the compulsory nature of this directive and issue an official administrative exemption for those with religious objections. We propose a peaceful compromise: Christian majority states in particular, and Christians in general, must be exempted from this mandate. They must be allowed to listen to their religious conscience and teaching with silence and utmost respect during the chanting on occasions.

On the other hand, do not enforce the chanting of Vande Mataram in our Christian institutions because we must teach loyalty to our faith as you do likewise in your institutions. Let us not weaponize patriotism for it is a beautiful word which one must learn and not be forced upon, lest its value be lost in continual protest and devalued

9. Regarding the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)

The enduring enforcement of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has reduced Northeast India to a heavily policed, isolated periphery, completely undermining the central hollow promises of economic integration. While the administration uses cheap political rhetoric to pitch our region to the global market, its own draconian laws actively sequester our home from the world. The PAP system serves as an oppressive tool of containment that blocks international observers, investors, and tourists from witnessing our ground realities, exposing a glaring contradiction between the government's propaganda and systemic isolation

Simultaneously, the continuous weaponization of AFSPA strips our people of basic human dignity by granting unchecked immunity to military forces, transforming democratic civic spaces into zones of fear and surveillance. Decades of living under this military oversight have left deep scars, sending a clear message that the Indian government views us not as equal constitutional citizens, but as an occupied territory to be controlled through intimidation. We completely reject token handouts and paternalistic sympathy; we demand an immediate shift from this top-down security paradigm to one rooted in genuine democratic partnership

Therefore, the community demands absolute, uncompromising equity and the immediate dismantling of these discriminatory frameworks. The state must step down from its high pedestal, meet its citizens at eye level, and take immediate steps to completely repeal AFSPA and abolish the archaic PAP regime. We demand a swift transition to transparent civilian oversight and community-centric governance, returning basic civil liberties and institutional dignity to the Northeast once and for all.

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