Itanagar: The People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), an alliance partner of the BJP, has formally opposed the enforcement of the 1978 Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. Party leaders warn that moving forward with the legislation now could damage the state’s social fabric and threaten the integrity of indigenous traditions.
Nabam Vivek, the PPA president and MLA for Doimukh, called on the state government to immediately suspend the implementation process. He urged officials to hold a special session of the Legislative Assembly to ensure the public and key stakeholders are included in the decision-making process. The party argues that enforcing the law could spark deep communal divisions and fracture tribal families, undermining the peaceful coexistence historically found across the region.
The 1978 act was originally designed to prevent religious conversions involving force, fraud, or inducement. Despite these stated goals, the PPA believes any current action requires a more inclusive approach. Regarding the potential for conflict, the PPA noted that the policy "could disrupt social harmony, deepen communal divisions, and adversely affect indigenous traditions and cultural rights." The party maintains that any path forward must be built on consensus and wide-ranging dialogue across all affected communities.
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