Anti-forced-conversion law: Arunachal indigenous faith leaders meet Mohan Bhagwat

The act was meant to check the use of force for conversion but could not be implemented as the state government did not frame the rules.

Guwahati: Local leaders campaigning for protection of Donyi Polo, an indigenous faith in tribal-dominated Arunachal Pradesh, on Friday met RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat at Itanagar amid a churning over the BJP government's move to implement the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA) 1978 that seeks to check conversion by force.

The groups promoting the indigenous faith that worships mainly the Sun and Moon, stressed that the 1978 act be implemented soon in order to check conversion by force and to protect the indigenous identity and culture from the "growing influence" of Christianity.

The act was enacted in 1978 in order to check use of force for conversion but the same could not be implemented as the rules were not framed by the state government. The BJP government led by CM Pema Khandu decided to frame the rules following an order of the Gauhati High Court in September 2024 to do so within six months. The HC issued the order following a PIL filed by a local resident, Tambo Tamin.

Maya Murtem, general secretary of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh, told DH that a team of the organisation met Bhagwat at Naharlagun in Itanagar on Friday and discussed "issues" concerning the society and the indigenous faith. She, however, did not disclose further about their discussion with the RSS chief.

Bhagwat met the leaders of the indigenous faith during his four-day long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which began on Thursday. Bhagawat is visiting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as part of preparations for celebrations of 100 years of RSS later this year. Sources said that the RSS was trying to reach out to the indigenous faith leaders in order to prevent further conversion.

"The rules should be immediately framed for implementation of the act in order to protect our indigenous faith and practices. We are not against any other religion and religion is an individual freedom but we are against using any force or fraudulent means for conversion," Murtem said.

Leaders of indigenous faith bodies have been agitating for implementation of the act saying forceful conversion into Christianity has become a threat to their faith and indigenous culture.

Arunachal Pradesh Christian Forum, on the other hand, staged protests and hunger strikes recently opposing the move for implementation of the act. They claim that the act is aimed at targeting the christians. The state has a little over 30 percent Christian population while the majority of the tribes practice indigenous faith. Nearly 13 percent practice Buddhism.

Reacting to the protests by the Chrsitians, Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently said the act is not against any religion. "Following a particular religion is an individual choice and the state has no role to interfere. However, it is the responsibility of the state government as well as each member of the society to protect and preserve the indigenous identity and rich cultural heritage of the indigenous communities."