Itanagar, Dec 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured representatives of indigenous organisations from Arunachal Pradesh that steps will be taken to frame the long-pending rules for the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, during a meeting held in New Delhi on Monday.

A delegation of the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), led by its president Emi Rumi, met Amit Shah at his official residence and urged the Centre to facilitate the implementation of the Act, which has remained largely unenforced for decades due to the absence of notified rules.

According to IFCSAP, the delegation highlighted concerns over the protection of indigenous faiths, culture and traditions in Arunachal Pradesh and stressed the need for early operationalisation of the law. Amit Shah assured the group that necessary steps would be initiated to address the issue.

Following the meeting, IFCSAP described the assurance as a significant development and expressed appreciation for the Home Minister’s intervention.

The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was enacted in 1978 during the tenure of then chief minister P.K. Thungon. The Act seeks to prevent religious conversions carried out through force, inducement or fraudulent means and provides for penalties, including imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 10,000. However, in the absence of formal rules, the Act has not been effectively implemented.