The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF), the apex body of Christians in Arunachal Pradesh, on June 2 submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu demanding an immediate halt to the state government’s ongoing exercise of framing and notifying rules under the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978. The forum gave the BJP-led government a deadline to comply, warning of mass rallies and a statewide bandh if its demands were not met.
The letter, addressed from the ACF’s headquarters in Itanagar and signed by President James Techi Tara, Secretary General Yomrik Lombi, and Senior Vice-President Nabam Niba Hina, described the forum’s “strongest opposition” to the rule-framing process. Copies were forwarded to the Governor, the Chief Secretary, and various media houses.
APFRA, which prescribes penalties including imprisonment and fines for those who convert others through force, fraud, or inducement, was introduced in 1978 but never implemented. In September 2024, the Gauhati High Court directed the state government to frame and notify the rules following a petition seeking implementation of the Act. Officials have since confirmed that the rule-making process is underway through a High-Powered Committee (HPC).
The ACF contends that the HPC has acted with “undue haste” and that the process has been carried out without adequate consultation with affected communities. “Such action without broad consensus and meaningful consultation with all stakeholders is likely to create avoidable tension and unrest within the state,” the memorandum states.
The forum has placed three demands before the government: immediate suspension of the entire rule-framing and notification process; assurance that no notification, implementation, or enforcement of the proposed rules will be undertaken; and a public declaration from the government committing to halt the process and initiate comprehensive consultations on the repeal of APFRA-1978.
Chief Minister Khandu has previously stated that the draft rules were not directed against any religion and that the government was proceeding in compliance with the court’s order.
While the ACF opposes implementation, the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) has been pressing the government for early implementation, arguing that indigenous communities are losing members to conversions at an alarming pace. According to census data cited by IFCSAP and state officials, the Christian population in Arunachal Pradesh grew from under one per cent in 1971 to over 30 per cent by 2011. During the same period, those following indigenous faiths declined from over 63 per cent to approximately 26 per cent, while Buddhists fell from roughly 13 per cent to under 12 per cent. The Hindu population rose by about seven per cent to 29.03 per cent in 2011.
Alongside the ultimatum, the ACF also issued a separate advisory notice to pastors, church leaders, and church committees across Arunachal Pradesh, alerting them that “certain unknown individuals and groups” had been visiting churches and seeking information about administration, membership, finances, properties, and other internal matters. The notice asked all churches to refrain from sharing records with unauthorised persons, demand proper identification from anyone claiming to represent an organisation or government agency, and report any incidents involving intimidation or coercion to the police. Churches were also asked to maintain records of such visits.
The ACF maintained that its ultimatum was issued “in the interest of preserving peace, protecting fundamental rights and maintaining communal harmony in the state.”
The 15-day deadline, which runs from the date of receipt of the memorandum on June 2, is set to expire in the third week of June.
