By Team ICM –
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said the four-decade-old law against conversions may be repealed adding that it could “undermine secularism”. The state had passed the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act in 1978, becoming the third state in the country after Odisha (1967) and Madhya Pradesh (1968) to do so.
“The law could undermine secularism and is probably targeted towards Christians,” Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who heads the state’s BJP government, said. He assured that the law would be brought before the next Assembly session for repeal as it “could be misused by irresponsible officials.”
“Any misuse of the law leading to torture of people could trigger large-scale violence in the State and could break Arunachal into pieces,” Mr. Khandu said at the function marking the 10th death anniversary of Reverend Brother Prem Bhai.
A Benedictine missionary who endured repeated arrest, imprisonment, beatings and wore disguises to evangelise in Arunachal Pradesh, Prem Bhai died on June 28, 2008 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He worked as a missionary in Arunachal Pradesh for almost 25 years despite laws entailed two years of imprisonment and fine of ₹10,000.
As per the 2001 census, Christians were the third largest religious group in the state comprising 18.7% of the total population—behind Hindus (34.6%) and others (30.07%). In 2011, Christians emerged as the largest religious group (30.26%) followed by Hindus (29.04%) and others (26.20%).
Census data say there were no Christians in North East Frontier Province, as the State was called then, in 1951. By 2001, Christians were
However, the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) and the Nyishi Indigenous Faiths and Cultural Society (NIFCS) viewed the move as appeasement of the minorities. IFCSAP general secretary Bai Taba said if the law was repealed, it would cause degradation of the state’s indigenous culture. Pointing out that Arunachal enjoys special safeguards under different Acts and legislations, he said repealing of the law would lead to marginalization of indigenous people.
The NIFCS said if the law was scrapped, it would damage the state’s basic structure of indigenous faith and culture. “By making such a statement, the Chief Minister is undermining the sentiments and emotions of indigenous faith believers,” NIFCS chief Pai Dawe said.
Sources: Various agencies
Picture courtesy: Wikipedia