On March 6, Christians in Arunachal Pradesh staged a massive protest against the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), which the government plans to implement soon. The protest was organized by the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF), with participants rallying in Borum, near the state’s capital, Itanagar. Protesters expressed strong opposition to the APFRA, which was passed in 1978 but has never been fully implemented until now. The forum claims the law unfairly targets Christians and undermines their freedom of religion.
The protest saw over two lakh Christians coming together despite being denied permission to demonstrate outside the State Assembly. ACF President Tarh Miri argued that the APFRA curtails the religious freedoms of Christians, stating, “We are against the implementation of the APFRA because it is targeted at Christians.”
The situation became tense following a September 2024 order by the Itanagar Bench of the Gauhati High Court, which instructed the government to frame rules for the law’s implementation within six months. This ruling has led to growing concern among Christians, who feel threatened by the law.
The APFRA was originally passed during the tenure of Arunachal Pradesh’s first Chief Minister P.K. Thungon but was never implemented. In light of the court’s directive, the state government is now working on framing the law’s rules. Chief Minister Pema Khandu assured that the government was simply abiding by the court’s order, urging people not to misinterpret the law.
Despite the government’s stance, the ACF remains vocal in its opposition, continuing its protests, including an eight-hour hunger strike in February 2025. The forum’s leadership is determined to challenge the law itself, not just its rules, with ACF Secretary-General James Techi Tara stating, “We will speak on the Act and not the rules.”
While the ACF is leading the protests, BJP members have also expressed concerns about the Act. Sama Yangfo, a BJP executive member, argued in a letter to the Chief Minister that the law violates fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India, specifically the right to freedom of religion under Articles 21, 25, and 26.
Former Home Minister James Lowangcha Wanglat also raised concerns about the APFRA, noting that the law could undermine Arunachal’s strategic importance amidst China’s territorial claims over the state. Wanglat criticized the law for targeting religious freedom, adding that indigenous faiths face greater threats from issues like land grabs and deforestation, which disrupt sacred spaces and spiritual practices.
Wanglat suggested that efforts should focus on safeguarding indigenous lands rather than targeting religious groups. He also pointed out that laws like the APFRA have historically curbed religious freedom, often discriminating against minority communities and fueling division rather than promoting unity.
An attendee of the protest reflected on the growing tension between various organizations, expressing disappointment over the escalating conflict: “Our concern was with the government, but now, seeing the present scenario, it’s more like the ACF and the IFSCAP, which is so unfortunate to witness.”
The ACF plans to continue its protests, focusing not just on the rules of the APFRA but on its fundamental nature, which they believe infringes upon the rights of Christians in the region.
