KOHIMA, Feb 24: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has expressed deep concern over the Arunachal Pradesh government’s move to revisit the Anti-Conversion Bill of 1978. In an open letter to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho, General Secretary of the NBCC, raised serious questions regarding the impact of the bill on religious freedom and regional harmony. Dr Keyho highlighted the historical and cultural ties between Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, urging the Chief Minister to consider the broader implications of the bill.
In the letter, Dr Keyho referred to the existing “Freedom of Religion Acts” or Anti-Conversion laws, which are state-level statutes in some Indian states, including Arunachal Pradesh. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh is one of the few Northeastern states with such a law, alongside Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. He emphasized that the bill had faced strong opposition in the past, particularly because of political motives aimed at suppressing specific religious groups rather than preserving traditional religions.
Dr Keyho expressed concern over the potential revival of the bill, cautioning that it could lead to the unnecessary persecution of Christians, as seen in other parts of the country. He noted that the law was never fully implemented due to significant opposition, both within Arunachal Pradesh and the wider region. The NBCC argued that the bill, which was originally intended to suppress a particular religious group, cannot be used as a tool to preserve indigenous heritage.
Addressing Chief Minister Khandu’s statement that the bill aims to protect traditional religions without targeting any specific group, Dr Keyho questioned the practicality of such claims, urging Khandu to clarify the real target of the bill. The NBCC leader stressed that the preservation of indigenous culture and heritage should be handled through separate and proper mechanisms, rather than through an Anti-Conversion law, which infringes on religious freedom.
Furthermore, the NBCC expressed concerns about the political motivations behind reviving the bill, describing it as “bad politics” and questioning its true intentions. In his letter, Dr Keyho implored the Chief Minister to be sensitive to the Christian community, which has long advocated against the bill. He emphasized that such a law would only divide the region and undermine peaceful coexistence.
The NBCC concluded the letter with a call for regional unity and the protection of secularism and religious freedom, urging Chief Minister Khandu to prioritize the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under India’s constitution. The Council also appealed to Khandu to reflect on the lessons of the past, when the bill faced opposition, and to work towards a peaceful, inclusive future for all communities in Arunachal Pradesh.
