Arunachal christian forum urges state government to halt anti-conversion law process
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The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) has urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to stop the process of framing and notifying rules for the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), expressing concerns over its potential impact on religious freedom and social harmony.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu on June 2, the apex body representing Christians in the state voiced its "strongest opposition" to the exercise and set a 15-day deadline for the government to respond. The organisation warned that failure to comply could lead to a series of protests, including shutdowns.
The APFRA was enacted in 1978, but has never been implemented because the rules required for its enforcement were not framed. In September 2024, the Gauhati High Court directed the state government to frame and notify the rules.
The ACF said Christians in Arunachal Pradesh fear that implementation of the law could have far-reaching consequences for constitutional rights, religious freedom, social harmony, and peaceful coexistence among different communities.
The organisation also alleged that the high-powered committee tasked with drafting the rules was acting with undue haste, creating concern among Christians, who form a significant section of the state's population.
The forum has called on the BJP-led state government to suspend the rule-framing process and begin detailed consultations with all stakeholders regarding the future of the legislation. It has previously described the APFRA as "discriminatory and divisive" and alleged that it unfairly targets the Christian community.
The issue has sparked competing campaigns within the state. While the ACF is seeking to halt the implementation process, the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh has been advocating for the law's early implementation.
Supporters and opponents of the legislation have organised rallies across Arunachal Pradesh, reflecting growing divisions over the future of the nearly five-decade-old law.
