The bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, contains clauses that empower authorities to "take over or dispose of assets" of organisations whose licences are suspended or cancelled. For Meghalaya and the wider region-where the Church manages the majority of premier schools, colleges, and rural clinics-the AICU argues this poses an existential threat to the state's social safety net.
In a formal statement, the AICU rejected any possibility of a partial rollback or postponement, insisting the legislation be scrapped entirely. The organisation sought a firm guarantee from the Union government that Church-run institutions and assets would remain free from state control.
The union asserted that the proposed measures conflict with Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which guarantee the freedom of religion and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
The AICU noted that recent FCRA enforcement has already targeted institutions providing essential education and healthcare. High-profile license cancellations, such as those involving World Vision India and various local NGOs, have previously raised concerns about the shrinking space for civil society and charitable work in remote areas.
The organisation also highlighted a reported surge in hostility, citing more than 700 incidents of violence against Christians in 2025, including the disruption of gatherings and the vandalism of property. While these figures reflect data compiled by groups like the United Christian Forum (UCF), official figures from the Ministry of Home Affairs have not yet been released to verify the 2025 count.
The AICU stated that the matter cannot be treated as a point of political convenience, asserting that delays or temporary measures would not resolve the threat to institutional autonomy. Beyond the withdrawal of the bill, the organisation called for an independent review of all FCRA-related actions since 2014 and more robust protections against hate speech targeting minority communities.