Itanagar, Mar 6: The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes’ Forum (AITF), an umbrella body of all apex community-based organizations (CBOs) representing indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, has expressed deep concern over recent developments following the High Court’s directive to frame rules under Section 8 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA), 1978, within six months.
The verdict has sparked strong reactions from various organizations, including the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) and the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP). The ACF has launched a hunger strike and dharna, while IFCSAP has organized rallies in certain districts. The AITF fears that these actions could disrupt peace, social harmony, and ongoing developmental activities in the state.
The AITF has requested the political party leaders, civil society organizations, and the general public to refrain from making provocative statements that could escalate tensions. Additionally, it has called for constructive engagement with the government to ensure that the rules under Section 8 of the Act are framed through an inclusive and consultative process.
The AITF has also urged the government to circulate the Draft Rules publicly for feedback from all stakeholders. To facilitate this, the Forum is contemplating to constitute a Consultative Committee to study the draft rules thoroughly to give inputs of the CBOs after thorough deliberation in Joint Consultative Forum (JCF) for wider consultation on the issue.