Rising Threats to Christianity and Tribal Rights in Arunachal Pradesh: A Struggle for Identity and Religious Freedom

The Christian community in India faces mounting challenges as it grapples with increasing threats to its existence and rights. One of the most concerning developments in recent times is the situation in Arunachal Pradesh, a region known for its diversity and remoteness. This state is now at the center of a controversy involving the revival of a long-dormant anti-conversion law from 1978 and ongoing demands to strip Christian converts of their Scheduled Tribe status. These actions are part of a broader effort to curtail the spread of Christianity, particularly among tribal populations in the state.

Anti-Conversion Law: A Resurging Threat

Arunachal Pradesh, home to 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, is recognized for its vast religious and cultural diversity. However, a piece of legislation—the anti-conversion law—originally enacted to prevent religious conversions “by force, inducement, or fraudulent means,” has remained inactive for years. This law is now set to be enforced in 2025, raising alarm among religious and human rights organizations. Christians, who make up over 30% of the state’s population, are especially concerned, with Hindus and adherents of indigenous faiths following closely behind in numbers.

The law, while ostensibly neutral, is widely seen as targeting specific religious communities, particularly Christians and Muslims. Under the law, individuals converting to another religion must report the conversion to local authorities, potentially subjecting them to harassment. Religious leaders, such as pastors and evangelists, could face severe penalties, including prison sentences of up to ten years, for facilitating conversions. Critics argue that this law undermines religious freedom and is being weaponized to suppress Christianity in the region.

Tribal Identity and Religious Conversion: The Struggle for Rights

The debate over religious conversion intersects with the sensitive issue of tribal identity. In India, Scheduled Tribes, also referred to as “adivasis,” enjoy affirmative action benefits, which include reserved seats in educational institutions, public employment, and legislatures. However, a growing faction of political groups, particularly those associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), contend that individuals who convert to Christianity—or Islam—should be stripped of these privileges.

This argument is not a new one. The 1950 Presidential Order already excluded Dalit Christians and Muslims from similar benefits, establishing a precedent for discriminatory policies. Calls to extend such exclusions to tribal Christians in Arunachal Pradesh are now part of a larger political agenda aimed at marginalizing religious minorities while solidifying Hindu identity.

Growing Violence and Persecution

The rise of anti-Christian sentiment extends beyond Arunachal Pradesh, as attacks against Christians are increasingly reported across India. According to data from the United Christian Forum (UCF), incidents of violence against Christians surged to 834 in 2024, up from 734 the previous year. This wave of violence includes the destruction of over 400 churches in Manipur during ongoing ethnic clashes, as well as coerced conversions to Hinduism, referred to as “gharwapsi” or “return to home.”

In Manipur, the violence that began in May 2023 has displaced over 70,000 people, most of whom belong to the Kuki-Zo tribe. Christians in the region have been subjected to extreme persecution, including forced affidavits renouncing their faith and the burning of Bibles. These actions serve as stark reminders of the growing scale of religious intolerance in India, especially in the northeastern states.

Hindutva and Tribal Areas: A Parallel Agenda

While Christian missionaries have worked in India’s tribal regions for decades, the RSS has aggressively pushed its agenda of Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism, in these areas. Through a network of schools, cultural organizations, and social initiatives, the RSS has sought to integrate indigenous tribal religions into a broader Hindu framework. This ideological push casts tribal Christians as outsiders, a narrative that fuels communal tensions.

The RSS’s strategy is not unique to Arunachal Pradesh. It mirrors similar efforts in other parts of India, such as Odisha, where violence against Christians culminated in the infamous 2008 Kandhamal riots. In Arunachal Pradesh, the RSS’s tactics include promoting Hindi as a common language and establishing RSS-affiliated schools that aim to instill nationalist ideals in tribal communities.

A National Struggle for Rights

The ongoing developments in Arunachal Pradesh are indicative of a larger, nationwide struggle. India’s constitution, which enshrines secularism and guarantees freedom of religion, faces increasing challenges from laws and policies that reflect the growing influence of Hindu nationalist ideologies. For the country’s Christian population, particularly those from marginalized tribal communities, the battle for equality and religious freedom is far from over.

Despite the legal and social challenges, religious leaders and activists continue to resist these measures, emphasizing the importance of preserving religious freedom in a diverse nation like India. As the situation in Arunachal Pradesh unfolds, the plight of Christians in the state serves as a microcosm of the broader threats facing religious minorities across the country. For many, this is not only a fight for religious freedom but also for their very identity and the future of their communities.