The decision taken by the Arunachal Pradesh government to now implement the long-dormant Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act has met with strong opposition from Christian organizations and raised eyebrows across the Northeast. It follows Guwahati High Court’s direction to complete the rules of the Act within March 2025.
APFRA was passed in 1978, which declared illegal any religious conversion made by force, fraud, or inducement. It directs a reporting of every conversion made to the district authorities, and any offender is liable to two years imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 10,000. Although it received Presidential assent, it has remained in suspension as Christian leaders opposed it. The Arunachal Christian Forum is demanding its repeal, saying the government is acting under pressure from external forces.
ACF has decided to hold a rally on March 6, though the state had urged them to cancel the protest. Tarh Miri, the president of the ACF, freely admitted that because of the composition of the Assembly, it is unlikely to be repealed, but said that the opposition remains firm. In the meantime, Home Minister Mama Natung said the government is just following the court’s instructions and assured that an inclusive committee would look into the issue. He said it is not intended against any religion but rather to regulate forced conversions.
Few supporters like Maya feel that transparency should be maintained and indigenous traditions be protected while documenting the religious conversions. The act has come at a time when the Christian population in Arunachal has increased significantly, from a meagre 0.79% in 1971 to a substantial 30.26% in 2011, raising fears about the extinction of Indigenous faiths like Buddhism, Donyi Polo, and many polytheistic traditions.
Beyond Arunachal Pradesh, Christian organizations are joined by the Naga Baptist Church Council in voicing their disapproval. Their warning is that such anti-conversion laws would foment grounds for societal discord between non-Christian hill tribes and Christian populations. Often, laws are misused for harassment against Christian communities, similar to other parts of India. The Assam Christian Forum also fears that APFRA could pave the way for religious persecution. With the rising tensions, the Arunachal Pradesh government has to balance between religious freedom within its care and tribal rights as well as legal obligations while addressing varying concerns from many communities and stakeholders.
Edited By Saumya Sharan
