Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Feb 5: The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) has decided to launch a series of democratic movements in protest against the state government’s reported move to implement the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978.
“The ACF strongly opposes the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act and its implementation in the state. We demand for its immediate repeal,” ACF president Tarh Miri said at a press conference here on Wednesday.
Terming the Act as ‘draconian’, he said that the state government’s decision to implement the law is ‘unconstitutional’, ‘anti-Christian’ and against the spirit of secularism.
Miri informed that the ACF had a series of meetings with leaders of various Christian denominations and unanimously decided to launch a series of democratic movements against the implementation of the Act and for repeal of the same from the state.
“A series of democratic movements would begin with a weeklong prayer-fasting period starting February 10 next, followed by a hunger strike on February 17 at the IG Park here. It would then end with ‘gherao’ of the State Legislative Assembly on March 6,” he said.
The ACF president appealed to all believers of Christian community to participate in the weeklong prayer-fasting and to avoid visiting festivals, celebrations, tours and meetings during this period. “Every believer must sacrifice their time and energy for the sake of the religion they worship,” he added.
Miri informed that the Forum has submitted several representations to the state government highlighting their grievances and demanding repeal of the Act.
“We held roundtable discussions with the Advisor to CM, Alo Libang but no positive resolution has come out,” he lamented, adding that there has been no response from the CMO as well.