Following was received: Please publish in the Goanet. Thanks!
"Attention to NGOs and Christian Leaders,
Greetings from the All India Christian Council.
John Dayal, the Secretary General of the All India Christian had important
discussions today with CHRI and Catholic senior lawyers on FCRA, as also with
some in VANI. He also had a discussion with the Archbishop of Delhi so that we
all can act in unison.
All agree that time is running out and we have a very short window of
opportunity to contact the President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil, UPA and
NAC chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Law Minister Mr. Moily to do the following
1. Persuade the President to not sign the Bill as passed by parliament and
return it to government following mass petitions from various NGOs and
communities. This will give government time to do some rethinking as the Bill
was first drafted by the BJP. On an off chance, Government may hopefully accept
our plea and come back to Parliament with some amendments.
2. Urge UPA chairperson Mrs. Gandhi to intervene, so that government does not
hurry up with sending Bill to President. And secondly, even if the President
does sign the Bill, the Government does not notify the Bill through a Gazette
of India notification, which makes it official, and then does not formulates
and notifies the Rules in a hurry. We may add that many Bills continue for
years before rules are notified. That is within the powers of the government.
3. The Minorities Commission may be persuaded to also send its comments to the
Government as a brutal implementation of this law will impinge on the work of
religious charities etc.
4. Legal appeals to Courts will not be possible before the Bill becomes law --
after the Presidential signature, the gazette notification and the notification
of rules.
5. Since the process before is strictly political advocacy, it is suggested
that the Christian community, together with other religious groups and the
secular NGO groups seek an appointment with the President, Prime Minister and
Mrs. Gandhi and give them memorandum as listed in Points I and 2 above. This
should also be done with the DMK, Trinamul Congress, Kumari. Mayawati and the
Yadavs leaders to write to the President and the Prime Minister although their
parties had not objected to the Bills in Parliament.
6. We can also build up awareness through seminars, many letters by individual
groups to the above mentioned people and institutions.
We are attaching herewith a copy of letters to the President and Mrs. Sonia
Gandhi.
FCRA - Letter to Mrs. Sonia, Sept 2010
FCRA - Letter to President Mrs. Patil, Sept 2010
FCRA Bill 2010 analysis, Aug 2010
The send attachment is the analysis of the new Bill which forms the basis of
our advocacy and our letters.
We have 50 page concordances which explain where the new Bill differs from the
old act which can be accessed by clicking at this link FCRB-FCRA final
concordance, Aug2010
We want to host as soon as possible a meeting on this in New Delhi with other
secular NGOs etc.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph D'souza,
President,
All India Christian Council
Dr. John Dayal,
Secretary General,
All India Christian Council"
