Daijiworld Media Network – Itanagar

Itanagar, Feb 20: As protests continue against the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978, leaders of the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) are set to meet state Home Minister Mama Natung on Friday to discuss their concerns.

A senior official from the Arunachal Pradesh Home Department confirmed that the Home Minister had earlier requested the ACF to suspend their agitation and invited them for a discussion at the state’s civil secretariat. ACF President Tarh Miri also confirmed their participation in the meeting, emphasizing that they strongly oppose the law, fearing it could adversely impact the Christian community in the state.

The ACF’s opposition to the APFRA, 1978, has led to intensified protests, including an eight-hour hunger strike at NIIS Nyokum Ground in Naharlagun Circle on February 17. According to the 2011 Census, Christians make up 30.26% (4.19 lakh) of Arunachal Pradesh’s 13.84 lakh population, and the Forum believes that implementing the Act could threaten religious freedoms.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has urged the public not to misinterpret the law. Addressing the 39th Statehood Day celebrations in Itanagar, he clarified that the Act, passed in 1978 when Arunachal Pradesh was a Union Territory under then-Chief Minister P.K. Thungon, is intended to preserve the state's cultural heritage rather than target any particular religion.

He explained that the Act had remained a two-page document without any formal rules for decades. However, following a directive from the Gauhati High Court’s Itanagar bench, the state government is now framing the necessary regulations within the court-mandated six-month period. Khandu assured that the Act would be implemented fairly and was not designed to undermine religious practices.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern over misinformation being spread on social media and mainstream platforms, cautioning that such narratives could disrupt communal harmony. He reiterated that the government remains open to discussions and is willing to address any concerns regarding the law.