Arunachal Christian Forum Meets Ministers to Discuss Implementation of Anti-Conversion Law, Freedom of Religion Act, 1978
First Published: 21st February, 2025 19:17 IST
Home Minister Natung expressed his willingness to hold further discussions with the ACF regarding their concerns.
The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) today met Home Minister Mama Natung and Minister of Social Justice Kento Jini to discuss the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 (APFRA). During the meeting, Home Minister Natung expressed his willingness to hold further discussions with the ACF regarding their concerns.
The ACF, led by President Tarh Miri and General Secretary James Techi Tara, reiterated their opposition to the Act. They argue that its enforcement may affect religious freedom in the state.
“The Home Minister said that the government, following the Gauhati High Court order, has to frame the rules to implement the APFRA, 1978. However, he said that the state government would continue to discuss the issue with ACF,” Miri said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, during the Statehood Day celebrations at IG Park, urged the public not to misinterpret the APFRA. He clarified that the law, passed in 1978 under the first Chief Minister PK Thungon, is being implemented following a Gauhati High Court directive. Khandu reassured that the Act is not aimed at any religion but is intended to preserve Arunachal Pradesh’s cultural heritage.
It needs to be mentioned that, the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 (APFRA) is a law aimed at regulating religious conversions in the state. The primary objective of the Act is to prevent forced or fraudulent conversions and to safeguard the cultural and religious integrity of the indigenous communities of the region.
The Arunachal Christian Forum is a leading Christian body in Arunachal Pradesh. The Forum had on Monday, staged a mass hunger strike across multiple district and sub-divisional headquarters, demanding the repeal of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, terming it as “discriminatory” and “unconstitutional”.
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