National day of fasting & prayer observed to express concerns against FCRA Bill

Chennai: Special prayer sessions were held in churches across the state on Sunday to highlight concerns over Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.The prayer sessions were organised in response to a call by Joint Action Forum on Minorities (JAFM) to observe National Day of Fasting and Prayer and urge the Union BJP govt to withdraw the FCRA (Amendment) Bill, 2026.Special prayer sessions were held in churches of all denominations. P Wilson, who is also the chairperson of JAFM, participated at a prayer service held at St Vincent’s Ascension Church in Chennai.Speaking in the prayer session, Wilson compared the FCRA Bill with the Enemy Property Act of 1968. “The Enemy Property Act was enacted to snatch the properties of people who left the country after independence. Similarly, the FCRA Bill treats minorities as enemies and is keen on snatching their properties,” Wilson said.The DMK MP said that a nationwide signature campaign has been launched and a protest has been planned on July 3 against the FCRA Bill.Later in the day a virtual meeting was organised where DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi participated. “The DMK has consistently opposed this Bill, as it unfairly targets minority educational and charitable institutions that have, for generations, served the poor and the oppressed communities across India,” Kanimozhi said on X after the meeting.