ITANAGAR, 15 Jun: The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) on Monday suspended its proposed mass vehicle rally scheduled for 18 June, after Chief Minister Pema Khandu assured that the rules under the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978 would not be implemented without extensive consultations with all stakeholders.
Addressing reporters after a meeting with the chief minister, ACF president James Techi Tara said the organisation received a positive response from the state government regarding concerns over the framing and implementation of the APFRA rules.
Tara said Khandu gave a written assurance that the rules would not be enforced without holding detailed consultations with all stakeholders, including representatives of different religious communities.
“In view of the assurance given by the government, we have decided to suspend the proposed vehicle rally on 18 June. However, the rally has not been cancelled and may be revived if circumstances require,” he said.
The ACF leader thanked members and supporters across the state for their unity and support during the movement.
Following the meeting, Khandu in a social media post described the interaction with the newly elected central executive members of the ACF as “positive and meaningful.”
“Our government’s driving priority will always be peace, harmony, and progress. In our beautiful state, no religious community should ever feel hurt, excluded, or alienated. Every faith, every tradition, and every citizen is an invaluable part of the Arunachal family,” the chief minister said.
The APFRA issue has remained a subject of public debate in the state after the government initiated the process of framing rules for the 1978 legislation, following directions from the Gauhati High Court.
Earlier this month, the ACF had expressed concerns over the proposed rules and sought wider consultations before their implementation. The organisation had also announced plans for a statewide vehicle rally and warned of further democratic protests if its demands were not addressed.
The state government has maintained that the proposed rules are intended to operationalise an existing law and are not directed against any particular religion. It has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to maintaining peace, communal harmony and inclusive dialogue while addressing concerns raised by various stakeholders.
The APFRA was enacted to prohibit religious conversions through force, fraud or inducement, but remained largely unimplemented for decades due to the absence of detailed rules.