*All India Christian Council* Most Rev. Dr. Joseph D' Souza National President
*Press Release - Karan Thapar's Interview for the Wire.* *FCRA [Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act] **Amendment Bill is "Loot and theft of Christian institutions — a Sangh Parivar agenda": Archbishop Joseph D'souza, President, All India Christian Council, to Karan Thapar for The Wire* Hyderabad, 2 April 2026 The President of the All India Christian Council and Primate of the Good Shepherd Church of India, Archbishop Joseph D'souza, in an interview the Karan Thapar for the Wire has called the government’s proposed amendments to the FCRA Bill, which were yesterday, at the last moment, deferred to the next session of Parliament, “loot and theft of Christian institutions and their property.” He says this is “A Sangh Parivar agenda.” If passed in the next session of Parliament, he says it will create an international storm with serious repercussions for India. Archbishop D'souza said: “This is a straightforward loot and theft of Christian institutions and their properties through a legal amendment of a bill. Just as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said years ago that demonetization was organized loot and plunder, I say if this law is passed, this will be the legalized loot of the Indian Christian community and the global Christian community.” Archbishop D'souza said: “This is a direct assault on minority rights. We have the right to create institutions and own institutions, and when we have already registered as societies, trusts, or companies, there are other mechanisms—if we are doing something wrong, they can intervene. So why are they creating this? I personally believe, and I say this very carefully, this is, by stealth, a Sangh Parivar agenda to grab Christian institutions of the nation.” Archbishop D'souza urged the Home Minister and the Prime Minister to drop the bill altogether. He said: “I would urge, through this interview and through you—we are friends of India, we are friends of Hindus—I would urge the Home Minister and the Prime Minister to do everything in their power to withdraw this bill.” These are only giving the headline aspects of the interview. The Archbishop speaks at length about how the Christian Church and its properties—hospitals, orphanages, and schools—would be adversely affected. He also speaks at length about the international repercussions of this bill, particularly in the United States. I think it’s worth your while hearing him directly. He makes points that many may not have appreciated. Now a word about the Foreign Contribution Amendment Bill. It creates a designated authority with the power to take permanent control of the foreign contributions and assets of any organization whose foreign contribution registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapses (sic). In turn, the designated authority can transfer those assets and properties to any ministry, department, or agency of the central, state, or local governments, or dispose of them through sale, with the proceeds credited to the Consolidated Fund of India. This means that the amendment bill gives the government the power to take over other people’s property and do with it as they please. Here is the link to Archbishop Joseph D'souza’s full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKBQfoeVj8I Madhu Chandra Singh Secretary - 9100952490 [email protected]
