Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu Clarifies Intentions Behind APFRA Rules

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the recently notified rules under the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978, are not targeting any religious group but to safeguard the indigenous faiths and cultures of the people irrespective of their religion.

While speaking at the Statehood Day celebrations, he explained that the imposition of the rules has occurred after a high court order.

Khandu highlighted the fact that the Act is already 46 years old, and yet there was no organized set of rules, and now the problem is being addressed. He assured everyone that the intention was

He also named Home Minister Mama Natung to hold dialogues with concerned groups to resolve any misgivings about the Act. The first of such meetings was scheduled with the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) on Friday.

The ACF has been the most vocal against the Act, calling it "unconstitutional" and organizing a hunger strike on February 17 to call for its repeal. Its grievances are part of the overall controversy over religious freedom and aboriginal rights in the state.

Apart from discussing matters relating to the APFRA, Khandu also showcased his government's achievements. He announced that in the next 10 years, Arunachal Pradesh will be generating a revenue of Rs 10,000 crores every year from free power and equity participation in power projects.

He credited the Centre for approving a 26 percent equity participation in all power projects so that the state benefits financially in the form of grant-in-aid.

Apart from this, Khandu spoke about the tourism industry in the state by stating that a tourism policy drafted by the government is now functional at grassroots levels. It has sanctioned the new tourist circuit of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts and increased tourist arrivals in the eastern region of the state significantly.

Through these steps, Khandu reconfirmed the intentions of his government toward providing economic development, preserving culture, and fair governance so that all sections of the population in Arunachal Pradesh feel secure and supported.

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