Itagar, Oct 20: The Rangfraa Faith Promotion Society (RFPS) has termed the demand of the Aruchal Christian Forum (ACF) to roll back the creation of the Department of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Affairs (DIFCA) as “unbecoming and unfortute”.
“The ACF cited Article 27 of the Indian Constitution, which discourages using tax money for promotion of a particular religion, to press its demand. We would like to make it clear that the indigenous faith handed down by our ancestors cannot be equated with religion and hence does not come under the purview of Article 27,” the RFPS said in a statement.
This, it added, is the only reason why the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs did not include the indigenous faith believes alongside Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains in the religious minority groups.
The RFPS advised ACF to refer to Article 27 where “there is no mention of the term faith anywhere”. The executive members of ACF should thus refrain from spreading misleading information in future so that peace and tranquility of the State is not disturbed, the Rangfraa organisation said.
“DIFCA is a long-felt demand of all the indigenous faith groups fulfilled by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his government. We should rather appreciate and welcome such a move as this department will ensure that the culture and identity of the people of Aruchal remains intact. The ACF should not oppose it as such ucceptable demand may lead to unrest in the State,” RFPS said. ACF should thus withdraw their demand for rolling back the Cabinet decision on creation of DIFCA, it added.
