Shillong, July 29 (IANS) The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in Meghalaya on Wednesday rejected reports alleging that it had remained “silent” on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, asserting that it has already raised Meghalaya’s concerns with the Centre through multiple high-level engagements.
In a strongly worded statement, the party described the reports as “misleading” and politically motivated, claiming it had consistently taken up the issue to safeguard the interests of religious and minority institutions in the state.
In an official statement, the NPP said Meghalaya Chief Minister and the party’s National President Conrad K. Sangma had personally led a high-level, multi-denominational delegation to the national capital earlier this month to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the proposed amendments to the FCRA.
According to the party’s senior leader, the delegation included senior representatives of the Presbyterian Church of India, the North East India Christian Council (NEICC), the Catholic Archdiocese of Shillong and the Garo Baptist Convention.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed concern over Section 16A(5) and other provisions of the proposed legislation, warning that they could adversely affect institutions engaged in education, healthcare and social welfare activities across the Northeast.
The NPP further claimed that Amit Shah assured the delegation that extensive consultations would be held with stakeholders before any decision on the proposed amendments.
The party also highlighted another meeting held in April this year, when CM Conrad Sangma, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), met Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
During that interaction, they stressed the critical role played by charitable organisations in remote and tribal areas and sought legislative safeguards against potential operational and property-related challenges arising from the proposed amendments.
Rejecting allegations made by its political opponents, the NPP said it believes in constructive engagement with the Union government rather than “empty rhetoric” and accused rival parties of spreading unverified information for political mileage.
The party reiterated that it would continue to raise issues affecting the rights and welfare of citizens and social institutions, maintaining that it has consistently been the first to take up such matters with the Centre.
–IANS
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