‘FCRA Bill tough’: TN CM Stalin slams BJP-led Center for ‘targeting’ Christians ahead of polls

New Delhi: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Stalincampaigning ahead of the state assembly elections on Saturday, slamming the amendments to the Constitution proposed by the Union government. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), claiming it targets minorities, particularly Christians.ALSO READ | ‘Minority anxiety’: Shashi Tharoor questions FCRA amendmentsFCRA Act cannot be occupied The discussion took place in the Lok Sabha due to opposition protests. The BJP-led Center defended the legislation, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asserting that it was aimed at protecting national security and did not target any particular religion.Stalin, while addressing an election rally in Nagarkoil, termed the FCRA bill an “attack on religious freedom”.“The FCRA bill is very harsh. It targets minorities, especially Christian organizations. If passed, recognition of Christian NGOs may be revoked and their funds may be confiscated for even minor missteps,” he was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.The DMK supremo added, “The bill amounts to a denial of rights under the Constitution and is a gross violation of religious freedom and people who want to engage in social services. Scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and the rural poor will be affected the most.”Stalin also claimed that he was the first to condemn the proposed amendment and said that he had written Prime Minister Narendra Modi was urged to withdraw the bill.Nagaykoil was the place where Stalin spoke at rallies and there was a large Christian presence here. According to the 2011 national census, Kanniyakumari district has an urban population of 224,000, of which about 30% are Christians.Meanwhile, Stalin further alleged that the Center had failed to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen and criticized its foreign policy. He also claimed that Prime Minister Modi had weakened India’s influence even among its smaller neighbours.Polling in all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu is scheduled to take place on April 23 and counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. In the 2021 polls, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won 159 seats, of which the DMK alone secured 133 seats, much higher than the majority of 118.