Itanagar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Masjid Welfare Committee is calling on the Itanagar Capital Region administration to adopt a uniform approach toward the regulation of religious institutions. The organization argues that authorities must ensure all oversight regarding legal documentation is applied fairly across temples, churches, gurudwaras, and naamghars, rather than focusing exclusively on mosques.
During a press conference held on June 6, committee member Giah Limpeh Sultan criticized what he described as selective enforcement against the Muslim community. He urged the government to reopen a recently sealed masjid and perform a comprehensive audit of all religious structures in the region to ensure every organization meets standard legal requirements.
Sultan claimed that records obtained through the Right to Information Act suggest that several other religious sites, including the Itafort Temple and the Gurudwara in Naharlagun, may also lack necessary approvals. He stated, "If authorities are examining the legality and documentation of mosques and masjids operating in the capital region, similar scrutiny should be applied to temples, churches, gurudwaras, naamghars, and other religious establishments that may be functioning without complete legal approvals or documentation."
Beyond the issue of building documentation, the committee expressed concern over the inconsistent application of the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Sultan questioned why authorities have not acted against members of the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organization following recent controversies, despite the earlier arrests of members of the ST Bachao Andolan Committee. The committee maintains that the state must enforce all laws impartially to uphold the principle of equality before the law.
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