Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, 18 Jun: The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) on Thursday accused the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) of pursuing a politically motivated campaign for the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978, and urged the state government to investigate the organisation’s activities.

Addressing mediapersons at the press club here, ACF president James Techi Tara alleged that the renewed demand for implementation of the Act has been influenced by external forces seeking to create social unrest and disturb the state’s longstanding communal harmony.

Tara questioned why the issue has resurfaced after remaining largely dormant for more than four decades.

“For over 40 years, there was little demand for the implementation of the APFRA. However, under the present IFCSAP leadership, the issue has repeatedly been raised, leading to growing tensions between communities,” he said.

The ACF leader urged the government to examine whether attempts are being made to incite public sentiment and said authorities should consider declaring IFCSAP a “radical group” if such activities are established.

Referring to the IFCSAP’s recent ultimatum to the government to implement the Act by 24 June, Tara questioned what he termed contradictory statements regarding the status of the legislation.

“If the Act is already operational, as claimed by some of its leaders, why is there a fresh push for implementation?” he asked.

Tara also expressed concern that the campaign could eventually lead to legal challenges against the Scheduled Tribe status of Christians in Arunachal. Drawing parallels with developments in neighbouring Manipur, he alleged that similar legal strategies could be adopted in the state.

The ACF president further accused IFCSAP president Dr Emi Rumi of pursuing political objectives and called on the organisation to disclose the identities of political leaders it claims support its campaign.

Questioning the scope of the APFRA, Tara said the legislation does not adequately reflect the diversity of indigenous faith traditions practiced in Arunachal.

Clarifying the forum’s position on the high-power committee constituted to deliberate on the APFRA rules, he said that the ACF had stayed away from the proceedings due to concerns over unequal representation of religious stakeholders, and maintained that its opposition is directed at the proposed rules, not the Act itself.

He also rejected claims that ACF had endorsed the committee’s recommendations, describing such assertions as “false and misleading.”