Editor,
I am writing to you today to share a critical public appeal and formal petitions that I have officially submitted to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, the Union Home Minister, and the leadership of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
This appeal is not on behalf of any single organization, but rather a unified plea from the grassroots, carrying the sentiments of the Bengali Muslim Community and concerned citizens across the region, regarding the severe threat posed by Section 16A(5) of the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026.
As your esteemed publications have accurately reported, the Chief Minister has rightfully raised concerns about this amendment in New Delhi. However, we believe that the executive branch’s efforts must be supported by a resounding voice from our grassroots communities and constitutional bodies like the GHADC.
The proposed clause – which empowers a central authority to arbitrarily seize assets like schools, hospitals and community centers built with foreign funds if an organization’s registration lapses – poses an existential threat to the primary infrastructure of rural Meghalaya. In Sixth Schedule areas, where these institutions are often the only lifeline for healthcare and education, such an amendment undermines both community welfare and tribal autonomy over local assets.
Amplifying this grassroots voice is crucial to ensuring that our local institutions remain protected and that our state leaders feel supported by the public in their opposition to this bill.
Abu Sabir Mondal
via email
