Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, June 11: Member of Parliament Tapir Gao on Thursday asserted that the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978, is intended to provide legal recognition and authenticity to all religions practised in the state and is not aimed against any particular religious community.
Addressing reporters at the BJP state headquarters here, Gao said there was considerable confusion among sections of the public regarding the draft rules of the APFRA, particularly in light of ongoing opposition by the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF).
He maintained that the Act is not directed against the Christian community but would instead help protect and authenticate all faiths practised in Arunachal Pradesh.
“The APFRA is a general law. Similar legislations have already been implemented in around 14 states across the country. There is nothing in the Act that targets or protects any particular religion,” Gao said.
The MP further stated that the legislation should be viewed as a legal framework governing religious conversions and recognition of different faiths rather than as a measure against any specific community.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Christian Forum has announced a mass vehicle rally in Itanagar on June 18 to protest the draft rules of the APFRA. The Forum has also appealed to Christians from across the country to extend support to the movement.