Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 (APFRA)

The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 (APFRA) was enacted to prevent religious conversions through force, inducement, or fraud. It mandates that anyone converting from one religion to another must inform the authorities beforehand, and violations can lead to imprisonment of up to two years along with a fine of ₹10,000. While the law was passed decades ago, it was never enforced because the necessary rules for its implementation were not framed. However, in September 2024, the Gauhati High Court directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to finalize these rules within six months, prompting a renewed push to implement the law.

Several Indian states have enacted similar laws over the years with the stated objective of protecting indigenous faiths and preventing mass conversions. Odisha was the first state to pass such a law in 1967, followed by Madhya Pradesh in 1968 and Chhattisgarh in the same period. Arunachal Pradesh introduced its version in 1978, though it remained dormant. Later, states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Jharkhand followed suit, with some specifically targeting religious conversions linked to marriage, often referred to as “Love Jihad” laws. Governments defending these laws argue that they are necessary to curb fraudulent or coercive religious conversions, while critics see them as tools for discrimination against minority communities, particularly Christians and Muslims.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu initially opposed the law. In 2018, he publicly stated that the 1978 Act should be repealed, calling it a draconian law that infringed upon religious freedom. His stance aligned with concerns that such laws disproportionately affect minority communities and could be misused. However, in December 2024, after the Gauhati High Court’s directive, Khandu reversed his position, stating that the government would proceed with the law’s implementation. His justification was that the law only sought to prevent forced conversions and was not meant to interfere with genuine religious practices. This shift was seen as a significant political decision, particularly in the context of Arunachal’s religious demographics and upcoming elections.

Though the law was passed in 1978, it was never implemented. The recent push came when the Gauhati High Court in September 2024 ordered the state government to frame implementation rules within six months. Following this, CM Pema Khandu announced in December 2024 that the law would now be enforced. In response, the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) and other religious groups launched protests against the move. On February 17, 2025, ACF organized an eight-hour hunger strike at Borum Nyokum Ground in Naharlagun, with widespread participation from Christian communities across the state. The ACF also held protests in multiple districts and sub-divisional headquarters, highlighting their opposition to the law’s enforcement. They plan to escalate their agitation with a mass march to the Arunachal Assembly on March 6, 2025, coinciding with the legislative session.

The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) has strongly opposed the anti-conversion law, arguing that it violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which ensures freedom of religion. They claim that the law unfairly targets Christian missionaries and converts, as Arunachal Pradesh has a 30.26% Christian population as per the 2011 Census. The ACF believes that requiring prior approval for religious conversions creates bureaucratic hurdles and opens avenues for harassment. They also argue that the BJP-led state government is pushing a religious agenda to curb Christian influence in the state. While the government maintains that the law is neutral and only aims to regulate forced conversions, the Christian community fears it could be selectively enforced.

The impact of this law on Arunachal Pradesh is expected to be significant. Supporters argue that it will protect indigenous faiths from external religious influences and mass conversions. They claim it will safeguard the cultural identity of tribal communities and ensure religious harmony. However, opponents believe it will lead to increased restrictions on religious freedom, particularly affecting Christians. The requirement of government approval for conversions could result in state interference in personal faith decisions and lead to legal battles over its constitutionality. The larger concern is that this law might deepen religious polarization in Arunachal Pradesh, which has historically been a peaceful state. Furthermore, its enforcement may set a precedent for other northeastern states to introduce similar laws, triggering wider regional tensions.

With both sides standing firm, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the law will be implemented as planned or if public resistance, legal battles, and political negotiations will force the government to reconsider.