Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a meeting with the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), pledged to draft long-awaited regulations for the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, addressing concerns over coerced religious conversions. The Act, intended to prevent conversions by coercion or fraud, prescribes penalties of up to two years in prison and fines of up to Rs 10,000. Despite being enacted over 40 years ago, it has remained largely ineffective due to the absence of notified provisions. The delegation from IFCSAP, led by president Emi Rumi, emphasized the need for the Act’s operationalization to protect indigenous faiths and cultures. Shah’s commitment has been welcomed as a positive step towards reinforcing the safeguards for Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous communities and cultural traditions.
Arunachal Freedom of Religion Act: Shah Assures IFSCAP of Rule Framing
