Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced that the state will not enforce the 1978 Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act without extensive discussions with all stakeholders. This decision follows growing public debate over the potential implementation of the legislation, which has remained dormant for nearly five decades due to a lack of formal rules.
The Chief Minister provided this assurance during a meeting with the Arunachal Christian Forum, an organization that has raised significant concerns regarding religious freedom and communal harmony. Following the discussion, the forum agreed to suspend a planned state-wide vehicle rally, though it maintained its demand for a total repeal of the act.
Khandu emphasized that his government remains committed to maintaining social cohesion. "In our beautiful State, no religious community should ever feel hurt, excluded, or alienated. Every faith, every tradition, and every citizen is an invaluable part of the Arunachal family," the Chief Minister stated on X.
The controversy intensified after a committee led by retired Justice Brojendra Prasad Katakey proposed draft rules for the act on June 8. While some indigenous groups support the measure as a way to stop forced conversions and preserve traditional beliefs, various rights groups and political allies have urged the government to reconsider. The state government now faces the challenge of balancing these competing perspectives while deciding the future of the long-standing, yet previously inactive, religious legislation.
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