Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mama Natung, said on Tuesday that the state government will soon frame new rules to operationalise the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978.
The move aims to bring clarity and streamline the law’s implementation. Speaking on the long-pending and often debated legislation, Natung said the APFRA protects all religions in the state. He clarified that the Act does not target any specific faith or community. Instead, it aims to safeguard religious freedom by preventing forceful conversions through inducement, allurement, or coercion.
Natung added that the proposed rules would define clear procedures and safeguards. “The law will be implemented in a fair and transparent manner,” he said.
He emphasised that the Act seeks to maintain communal harmony and protect indigenous religious and cultural practices while respecting every individual’s constitutional right to practise any religion.
The Home Minister stressed that the government does not view APFRA as being against any religion. “The Act will support all religions by ensuring that faith remains a matter of free will and personal conviction,” he said.
The APFRA, enacted in 1978, prohibits conversion from one religion to another by force, fraud, or inducement.
Over the years, the absence of detailed rules has sparked debates and legal challenges over its enforcement. Officials said the new rules will provide legal clarity and address concerns raised by various stakeholders.