FCRA Amendment Bill an attack on religious freedom, social activism: T.N. CM Stalin in Nagercoil

DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday (April 4, 2026) criticised the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill, terming it a severe attack on religious freedom and on people committed to social service.

While addressing an election campaign in Nagercoil, he said, “As elections approach in States like Keralam and Assam, where there is a large Christian population and many churches, the BJP government has slightly stepped back out of fear. However, its plan is to soon convene a special session of Parliament and pass this Bill into a law.” He noted that the Act could take away the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Highlighting that even many Hindus benefit from Christian charitable organisations, he observed, “This attack, driven by a mindset of religious hatred and directed against humanitarian activities, is not just against one religion, it is against humanity as a whole.”

Mr. Stalin stressed that the FCRA Bill posed a danger that could cause irreversible and indelible damage to India’s global reputation. He further questioned the AIADMK’s stance regarding the Bill, mentioning that the party’s general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had recently said that the AIADMK would protect the minority community as carefully as eyelids guarding the eye.

Criticising the AIADMK, Mr. Stalin said that the party has turned into a subservient group to the BJP. He added that Mr. Palaniswami was making excessive efforts to appease New Delhi just to protect the ‘AIADMK General Secretary’ nameboard.

At the campaign, he announced two new promises for fishermen: the age limit for membership in the Fishermen Welfare Board will be raised from 65 years to 70 years, and the monthly pension for members of the board – for those aged 70 to 75 years – stating that the Dravidian model government has always acted as a trusted friend of fishermen. However, he pointed out, “The Union BJP government, which holds the foreign policy, has failed to protect our fishermen.”

Earlier Mr. Stalin had introduced the candidates for six assembly constituencies, who are contesting under DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in the forthcoming Assembly elections, to the members of public.