ITANAGAR, Feb 15: The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) announced a statewide hunger strike on February 17 in protest against the state government's decision to enforce the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978.
The demonstration will be held at the NIIS Nyokum Ground in Borum village, Naharlagun, from 9 am to 5 pm as part of ACF’s ongoing opposition to the legislation. The forum has also planned a protest march to the state assembly on March 6, coinciding with the assembly session where discussions on the Act are expected.
The renewed debate over the legislation follows a directive from the Gauhati High Court on September 30, instructing the state government to finalize rules under the Act within six months. The order was issued in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Naharlagun resident Tambo Tamim, who sought the court’s intervention, citing the government’s failure to frame rules more than four decades after the Act was passed.
Chief minister Pema Khandu had stated in December last year that the government would soon finalize rules and implement the dormant Act. He emphasized that a structured Freedom of Religion Act would play a crucial role in protecting the indigenous faith and culture of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, enacted 46 years ago by the first state legislative assembly, prohibits religious conversions through inducement or fraudulent means. Violations of the Act can result in imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of ?10,000.
ACF president Tarh Miri stated that the forum had previously sought the state government's intervention and held discussions with MLA Alo Libang and Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta. However, he claimed that no positive response had been received so far.
In addition to the statewide hunger strike in Itanagar, district-level Christian forums will organize similar protests at their respective district and sub-divisional headquarters on February 17, ACF informed.
According to the 2011 Census, Christians constitute 30.26% of Arunachal Pradesh’s population.