KOHIMA | The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) held a protest in Nagaland against proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the reported move to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory at official events.

The protesters called for the protection of religious freedom, constitutional rights and India’s secular character, stressing that patriotism should not come at the cost of religious identity or freedom of conscience. Addressing the rally, NJCF president N Paphino said the demonstration was not directed against India, the Constitution or the state, but was a peaceful expression of concerns over faith, identity, religious liberty and democratic values.

“Nationalism does not mean the destruction of identity. Patriotism does not mean the surrender of conscience,” Paphino said. He said India’s strength lay in its diversity and argued that national unity should not be equated with uniformity.

On the reported move to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory, Paphino said people whose religious beliefs prevented them from participating should not be forced to sing it. He described the issue as one of freedom of conscience rather than patriotism and urged the government to ensure that people were not harassed for choosing not to participate.

Following the rally, the NJCF submitted a memorandum addressed to the President through Lok Bhavan.

The memorandum raised concerns over the proposed FCRA amendments, religious freedom and compulsory singing of ‘Vande Mataram’. It also sought an end to the continued enforcement of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the Northeast.

On the proposed FCRA changes, the forum said Christian organisations should not be selectively targeted and rejected allegations that foreign contributions received by Christian institutions were linked to forced conversions. The NJCF maintained that such funds were used by Christian organisations for charitable and social-welfare activities, particularly for marginalised communities.

At the same time, the forum said it was not opposed to strict enforcement of the FCRA and that organisations found violating the law should face penalties, including cancellation of licences where warranted. It also urged the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the proposed amendments to consult a broad range of stakeholders, including grassroots beneficiaries, and visit remote areas to assess the potential impact of the proposed changes.

The protest comes amid a wider debate over religious freedom, regulation of foreign contributions and the balance between national symbols and individual freedom of conscience.