Shillong, Sept 3: The National People’s Party (NPP) has demanded for repeal of Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (FRA), 1978, terming the Act an ‘infringement of fundamental rights” of Indian citizens.
A party resolution to oppose the Act related to religious conversion was passed at the NPP’s annual general meeting at Tura on Friday.
The party members felt that implementation of the Act would create chaos in Arunachal Pradesh and they remarked that the Act is in violation of the Constitutional provisions.
Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K Sangma said there should be no space for such a law.
“The danger of such Act is that certain administration may misuse the law, to target individuals. For us as a party, we have to stand against this Act, and as a united force we should demand repeal of this Act. NPP will not accept any law that will oppress and target certain minority communities,” he said.
Advocating for repeal of the “draconian” Act, NPP national working president James K Sangma said Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience, and implementation of FRA will lead to misuse of several existing laws.
He said as a political party, NPP is against the Act, which is an infringement of the rights of individuals.
NPP’s Kerala unit president KT Thomas said the Act is against the “spirit of the country”, which witnessed the birth of four major religions – Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
“Conversion was happening throughout Indian history. In the beginning of the first century, Christianity was introduced in India by St. Thomas around AD 52, latter Islam came to India, Persians, Jews…from this perspective the Act is against the spirit of this nation,” he said.
The party will come up with necessary papers seeking intervention from the Government in Arunachal Pradesh for repeal of the Act.
The resolution for the repeal of the Act was moved by NPP national executive member Washi Yalem and seconded by national general secretary (organisation) Paknga Bage.
The meeting was attended by members from different state delegates, including senior NC members, who termed the Act as ‘infringement of the fundamental rights’ of Indian citizens.
The party is also approaching New Delhi’s intervention to prevent the implementation of the Act in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, is a law to prevent conversions from one religious faith to another through force, inducement, or fraudulent means. It was enacted to protect the indigenous cultural and religious practices of the state but remained dormant for decades due to a lack of implementation rules and political pressure from significant Christian groups.
