Mugdha Das

Arunachal Pradesh: Protection of Freedom of Religion Act

Digital Desk: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has undertaken a large outreach campaign to preserve the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA) of 1978, despite mounting objections from the Christian population and opposition from Christian MLAs.

As part of this program, BJP leaders, including Ministers and MLAs, are meeting with district-level party workers and the general public to emphasize the importance of the Act.

One such event took place at the Waii International Hotel in Itanagar, where Urban Affairs and Housing Minister Balo Raja and Tali MLA Jikke Tako conducted discussions on the subject.

The APFRA of 1978 has been a source of contention, with the Christian community claiming that it limits religious freedom and the BJP contending that it is necessary to avoid forced religious conversions.

The 1978 Act forbids religious conversions through force, seduction, or deception, and all conversions must be reported to the Deputy Commissioner.

The BJP's outreach program seeks to refute opposition narratives while also reinforcing its position on the law, emphasizing that the Act is intended to protect indigenous faiths and prevent forceful religious conversions.

The party intends to have similar engagements in multiple districts in the coming weeks to strengthen support for the APFRA, 1978, before the state's next elections.

The move comes amid mounting tensions over the APFRA of 1978, with some members of the Christian community claiming that it is "anti-Christian" and prone to abuse.

The BJP, on the other hand, believes that the Act is vital to protect the cultural and religious identity of Arunachal Pradesh's indigenous communities.