The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched an extensive outreach campaign to defend the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978, amid growing protests and opposition from sections of the Christian community and Christian legislators in the state assembly.As part of its strategy, the BJP has mobilized ministers and MLAs to engage with grassroots workers and the public to clarify the purpose of the Act. The ruling party maintains that the law is necessary to protect indigenous faiths and prevent forced religious conversions, countering claims that it restricts religious freedom.
A key interaction session was held at Waii International Hotel in Itanagar, where Urban Affairs and Housing Minister Balo Raja and Tali MLA Jikke Tako, who is also the Advisor to the Home Minister (Power), led discussions on the issue. The event was jointly organized by the 18-Palin Mandal and 20-Tali Mandal units of the BJP. The session saw active participation from district and mandal-level BJP leaders, including the President of the BJP Kra Daadi District, Mandal Presidents of Tali and Palin, members of BJP Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha, and other party karyakartas. The discussions focused on reinforcing the BJP’s stance on APFRA, dispelling misconceptions, and strengthening party unity ahead of the upcoming state elections.
The APFRA, enacted in 1978, has remained a subject of debate, with Christian groups arguing that it infringes on religious freedoms, while the BJP asserts that it safeguards the traditional faiths of Arunachal Pradesh. The party’s latest outreach efforts aim to counter opposition narratives and solidify support for the law at the grassroots level.
