Almost a fortnight after Christians in Arunachal Pradesh staged a hunger strike opposing the Pema Khandu government’s move to enforce an anti-conversion Act of 1978 vintage, the State’s indigenous faith believers took out a rally on Saturday, demanding early implementation of the law.
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The Sadbhavna Pad Yatra, organised by the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) at Doimukh, followed a meeting of the leaders of the organisation with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat in the State’s capital, Itanagar on Friday (.
Doimukh, in the Papum Pare district, is near Itanagar.
IFCSAP Vice-President Pai Dawe told journalists that the indigenous faith believers organised the rally to demonstrate their solidarity with the Bharatiya Janata Party government for the early implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA).
“This Act was introduced in 1978 within four months of the State Assembly’s maiden session for the welfare of the indigenous tribal society. Despite repeated requests, it has not been implemented yet,” he said.
He said the APFRA got the presidential assent within a short period but successive governments paid “lip service” to the indigenous faith believers. “If it is implemented, we will be able to preserve and maintain our culture, tradition, and rituals,” he added.
Members of the IFCSAP said the tribal people were increasingly converting to other religions and without the APFRA in place, the indigenous faiths would soon become extinct.
On February 17, Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) members staged an eight-hour hunger strike against the APFRA in Itanagar. Among the participants were some MLAs.
According to ACF president Tarh Miri, the APFRA violates the freedom of accepting faith and religious belief. “Anti-conversion law is enforced in 11 states. We oppose this Act as it is only against Christianity,” he said, adding the enforcement of the APFRA would create hatred among the people who “should be free to change faith”.
Firmly committed to intensifying its agitation against the Act, the ACF plans to gherao the 60-member State Assembly on March 6 during its Budget session.
Earlier, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said a directive from the Gauhati High Court has necessitated the implementation of the APFRA. In September 2024, the court asked the government to finalise the Act’s draft rules within six months.
