Two months after the BJP-led government of Pema Khandu had announced its decision to set up a separate department for protection and preservation of indigenous faiths and culture of the state, the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) has asked the government to roll back the decision “because it is clear favour for and promotion of one particular faith.”

“The state government is trying to show clear favour to and thereby promote one particular faith, which is gross violation of Article 27 of the Constitution. Ours is a secular country and the state cannot promote one particular faith by using tax-payers’ money,” Toko Teki, general secretary of the Forum said.

Speaking on the telephone from Itanagar, Teki also said that while the Arunachal Christian Forum had already submitted a memorandum to the chief minister several weeks ago, it has now decided to set a deadline of October 25 for the government to make its stand clear. “If we do not get any positive response from the government, then we will resort to a series of peaceful protests. We have already given an ultimatum to the chief minister on October 13,” Teki told The Indian Express.