New Delhi, Dec 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured representatives of indigenous groups from Arunachal Pradesh that necessary steps would be taken to frame the long-pending rules for the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, raising hopes for the effective implementation of the legislation.
The assurance came during a meeting between Shah and a delegation of the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), led by its president Emi Rumi, at the Home Minister’s official residence in New Delhi.
During the meeting, the delegation stressed the urgent need to operationalise the Act, pointing out that the absence of notified rules for over four decades had rendered the law largely ineffective.
The IFCSAP sought Shah’s direct intervention to expedite the process, stating that the delay had weakened safeguards intended to protect indigenous faiths, cultures and traditions in the state.
In a statement issued later, the IFCSAP described the Home Minister’s assurance as a significant and positive development for indigenous communities in Arunachal Pradesh.
The organisation expressed gratitude to Shah, noting that the proposed move would strengthen the protection of traditional belief systems and cultural practices in the northeastern state, which has witnessed long-standing concerns over alleged forced or induced religious conversions.
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was enacted in 1978 during the tenure of former chief minister P.K. Thungon to curb religious conversions carried out through force, inducement or fraudulent means.
The Act provides for penalties, including imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for violations.
However, despite being on the statute books for more than 40 years, the Act has remained largely non-operational due to the absence of notified rules, leading to repeated demands from indigenous groups for its effective implementation.
Shah’s assurance has now raised expectations that the long-pending issue may finally be addressed.
