The Arunachal Pradesh government is bringing back a 1978 law aimed at preventing forced religious conversions.
Here's a simplified explanation:
What is the 1978 Act about? It prohibits religious conversions that happen through force, bribes (inducement), or trickery (deceit). It also sets punishments like jail time and fines for those who break the law.
Why is the government reactivating this law now? The government says it wants to protect the many native religions of Arunachal Pradesh.
What was the situation when the law was first made? The law was created during a time of rapid change in Arunachal Pradesh to protect its native faiths.
What does the law require? Anyone who converts to a new religion must report it to the local Deputy Commissioner (a government official).
What are the main religions in Arunachal Pradesh?
Different forms of Buddhism (Mahayana and Theravada).
Nature worship (polytheistic beliefs).
Vaishnavism (a branch of Hinduism).
Donyi Polo (a native faith).
When did Christianity start growing in Arunachal Pradesh? In the 1950s, influenced by missionary work in Assam. The first church was built in 1957.
How much has the Christian population grown? From less than 1% in 1971 to over 30% in 2011.
Who opposes the Act?
Some Christian leaders and groups, like the Arunachal Christian Forum, who call it an "anti-Christian law."
Some politicians, like Bakin Pertin, a Christian MP who opposed it from the beginning.
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly also passed a resolution against it.
What is happening now?
A lawsuit was filed in 2022 to force the government to enforce the law.
The Gauhati High Court has been told that the government is creating rules to implement the law.
Key Facts:
The 1978 Act bans forced conversions.
Donyi Polo is an important native religion.
The first church was built in 1957.
The Christian population grew significantly between 1971 and 2011.
Conversions must be reported to the Deputy Commissioner.
What could happen in the future? This law could change the balance between native religions and Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh. There are ongoing debates about protecting native cultures and religious freedom.
In simple terms: The government of Arunachal Pradesh is bringing back an old law that tries to prevent people from being forced or tricked into changing their religion. This is happening because of concerns about the growth of Christianity in the state and a desire to protect the native faiths of the region. Some people oppose the law, saying it's unfair to Christians. The courts are now involved in making sure the law is properly put into action.