A decades-old law that remained largely dormant for nearly half a century has once again become the focus of intense political, religious and cultural debate in Arunachal Pradesh.
On June 2, the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding the immediate suspension of the process of framing and notifying rules under the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Forum expressed strong opposition to the government’s efforts to operationalise the legislation by formulating rules, a move that could finally bring the law into force after decades of inactivity.
The development marks the latest chapter in a long-running dispute that touches on religious freedom, indigenous identity and the role of the state in regulating religious conversion.
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was enacted in 1978 when Arunachal Pradesh was still a Union Territory under the Janata Party government.
The legislation was designed to prohibit religious conversions carried out through force, inducement or fraudulent means.
Under the Act, no person may convert or attempt to convert another person from one faith to another through coercion, inducement or fraud, nor assist such a conversion.
Violations of the law can result in imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of up to ₹10,000. The legislation also requires religious conversions to be reported to the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned.
Failure to comply with this provision can result in imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of ₹1,000, or both.
Despite these provisions, the law went unenforced for decades because the state government failed to establish the rules necessary for its implementation.
That situation began to change following a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2022 by Tambo Tamin, former general secretary of the Indigenous Faiths and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP).
The petition sought judicial intervention over the state’s failure to formulate the rules mandated under the Act. In October 2024, the Gauhati High Court’s Itanagar Bench directed the state government to fulfil its obligations and complete the drafting of the rules.
The court’s intervention altered the trajectory of the legislation. What had remained dormant for decades was on the verge of becoming operational. But, as the government moved ahead with consultations and rule-making, opposition from Christian organisations intensified.
On April 29, 2026, widespread demonstrations were organised across Arunachal Pradesh by the Arunachal Christian Forum. Protest rallies and dharnas were held in districts including Lower Dibang Valley, West Siang, East Kameng and Kamle.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in towns and villages across the state, carrying placards and raising slogans demanding the repeal of the Act.
Christian groups argue that the Act is outdated, open to misuse and potentially capable of interfering with constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
They have repeatedly called for its repeal rather than its implementation. The state government has held consultations with various stakeholders, but no consensus has emerged.
The issue also reflects a deeper contest between competing visions of cultural preservation and religious freedom in Arunachal Pradesh.
For organisations such as the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh, the Act represents a safeguard against coercive conversions and a means of protecting indigenous traditions and belief systems.
On December 22, 2025, an IFCSAP delegation led by its president, Dr Emi Rumi, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi seeking intervention to expedite the framing of rules under the Act.
According to the organisation, Shah assured the delegation that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the early framing of the rules.
The delegation argued that implementation of the law was urgently needed. Following the meeting, IFCSAP described the assurance as a positive development that would strengthen the protection of indigenous faith, culture and traditions in the state.
Founded in 1999, IFCSAP serves as a registered body dedicated to preserving and promoting the indigenous faiths and cultural traditions of Arunachal Pradesh.
The debate has also attracted academic attention.
In their study titled ‘Faith, Politics, and Law: The Contention Over Reviving Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978,’ researchers Ingo Mitalo and Jayanta Krishna Sarmah examined the implications of reviving the law.
The study argues that efforts to regulate religious conversion in a pluralistic society inevitably generate controversy because they sit at the intersection of individual liberty, state authority and collective identity.
The authors contend that legal instruments regulating religious conversion often raise difficult questions regarding the legitimate boundaries of state power.
According to the study, the revival of the APFRA following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rise to power in the state represents more than a simple regulatory response to conversion.
The researchers argue that the timing and manner of its revival form part of a broader political discourse that seeks to reshape understandings of religious and ethnic identity through legal means.
The study warns that the law’s implementation could influence state-society relations, inter-community dynamics and the broader landscape of religious and political contestation in Arunachal Pradesh.
At the same time, it notes that supporters view the legislation as a necessary mechanism for protecting indigenous cultural identities.
As the June 2 ultimatum approaches its deadline, tensions remain high.
Speaking to EastMojo, Arunachal Christian Forum secretary Tarh Miri said the government had not responded to the memorandum submitted by the organisation.
“So far, there is no response from the government. The 15-day ultimatum was given on June 2,” he said.
According to Miri, the Forum has already decided to intensify its democratic agitation if no response is received. Planned activities include protest rallies, peace dharnas and vehicle rallies.
Miri also accused organisations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of interfering in the state’s affairs and attempting to undermine secular principles and church institutions.
He alleged that certain groups regularly approach the government seeking restrictions on church construction and religious activities.
“Christians will not succumb to their opposition,” he said. “The more they restrict us, the more our churches are growing.”
A missionary who spoke to EastMojo on condition of anonymity also expressed concern about the broader implications for religious freedom if restrictions were expanded.
Supporters of the Act reject the suggestion that it targets any particular religion.
IFCSAP president Dr Emi Rumi told EastMojo that many critics of the legislation have not properly examined its contents.
“The act is a very simple one. It is only a three-page Act and was drafted way back in 1978 when Arunachal Pradesh was a Union Territory,” he said.
Rumi argued that the legislation applies equally to all religions and is not directed at Christians or any other faith community.
“This Act is not against any religion. This Act is for all religions irrespective of whether they are indigenous religions, Christian, Buddhist or any other religion,” he said.
According to Rumi, the primary purpose of the law is to prevent conversions carried out through fraudulent or coercive means. He argued that instances of conversion between different religious communities have occurred in the state and that regulations are needed to prevent abuses.
He also questioned the Forum’s decision to issue an ultimatum to the government, noting that the state was acting pursuant to a High Court directive.
Rumi pointed out that the constitution of the committee tasked with drafting the rules had itself incorporated demands previously raised by the Arunachal Christian Forum, including concerns regarding its composition and leadership.
Also Read: Nagaland: Peren village creates a reserve for Asiatic Golden Cat
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI