GUWAHATI
Christians in Arunachal Pradesh demonstrated on Thursday (March 6, 2025) against an anti-conversion law to be implemented in the northeastern State soon.
Mobilised by the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF), believers gathered at a ground in Borum near the State’s capital Itanagar to voice their opposition to the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA) of 1978.
Explained | What are the existing laws on religious conversions?
ACF president Tarh Miri claimed more than two lakh Christians, cutting across denominations, gathered at the ground after the local authorities denied them permission to demonstrate outside the State Assembly and a popular protest venue in Itanagar.
“We are against the implementation of the APFRA because it is targeted at Christians and will curtail our freedom of religion,” he said.
Christians in Arunachal Pradesh felt intimidated after the Itanagar Bench of the Gauhati High Court, hearing a petition in September 2024, ordered the government to frame its rules within six months.
The law was passed in 1978 during the tenure of the State’s first Chief Minister, P.K. Thungon but was not implemented by successive governments.
Countering the protests, Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged the people of the State not to misinterpret the APFRA, the rules of which were being framed following the high court’s order. “The department concerned and the State government are abiding by the court’s directives and the initial draft is being prepared,” he said.
The ACF launched a series of protests against the law with an eight-hour hunger strike on February 17. Four days later, leaders of the forum held an “inconclusive” meeting with the State’s Home Minister, Mama Natung.
“The Home Minister said the court’s order made it necessary for the government to frame the rules to implement the APFRA. He, however, said the State government would discuss the issues related to the law with the ACF,” Mr Miri said.
