The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) has announced a series of protests against the state government’s move to implement the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978.
ACF president Tarh Miri said in Itanagar on Thursday that the forum would begin a week-long fast from February 10, followed by a mass prayer demanding the repeal of the law. The group is also planning to gherao the state assembly on March 6, when the Act is expected to be discussed in the House.
Miri stated that the forum had earlier raised its concerns with the Chief Secretary in November last year and had also submitted a letter to Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Miri said that the move to implement the Act was against the spirit of secularism.
In December last year, the Chief Minister had said the Freedom of Religion Act would be implemented after its rules were framed.
The Chief Minister had announced in December that the Act would be enforced after its rules were framed. His statement followed a directive from the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court, which instructed the state government to finalize the draft rules within six months from September 2024.
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was passed by the state Assembly in 1978 under then-Chief Minister PK Thungon of the Janata Party-led government. The law, which received presidential assent on October 25, 1978, seeks to prohibit religious conversions by force, inducement, or fraudulent means. It was reportedly enacted to address concerns about threats to indigenous faiths. However, successive governments had refrained from enforcing it until now.
