ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Oct 16:Denouncing the Arunachal Christian Forum’s (ACF) claims, the Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFSCAP) while demanding immediate withdrawal of their demands has claimed that "religion " and "belief" are different in terms of their concepts and connotations and creation of Department of Indigenous Faith & Cultural Affairs in no way violates Article 27 of Indian Constitution.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon at press club, President, IFSCAP, Ligu Tacho while strongly condemning their demands as against the interest of indigenous people stated that " "religion" and "faith" are two words with different meaning and backgrounds, which often confuse people.

He also clarified that it is also nowhere mentioned that promoting “faith” is an infringement to the Article 17 of the Indian constitution.

“Article 27 is nothing to do with our age- old belief system, so there should be no misconception and such misleading statement should not be spread, which will create hurdles in the creation of much sought department to preserve our tradition & customs, which is on the verge of extinction,” asserted Tacho.

Appealing all the indigenous people to support the creation of DIFCA, Publicity Secretary, Nyasam Jongsam while requesting the government not to succumb to the self-centred demand affirmed to take its own course of action legally or through democratic means of protest to counter ACF.

Clarifying that they are not against any religion, Jongsam alleged that if ACF does not withdraw its demands within stipulated time, then it shall be bound to raise the issue of ST status being enjoyed by Christian community of the state at present.

Jongsam claimed that it is mandatory that before converging from any religion to others religion, one has to obtain necessary permission from concern administrator in written or have to surrender ST status. However he disclosed that such authorization were excluded in our state, but practiced in few states of the country.

While commenting on the concern being raised by ACF that despite having a full-fledged Art & culture and research department, the state government is unnecessarily creating another department, Secretary, IFSCAP, Bai Taba alleged that the department is already overburdened with works and has left many fields untouched, especially in the line of indigenous faith and cultural affairs of the state.

Calling the department as “essential” to protect the dying tribal culture, Taba alleged that both the department has failed to preserve and develop the indigenous languages or dialects, institutionalization of priesthood and their promotion, valuable scripts of various communities etc.

Further terming the ACF allegation that the creation of the department is being done under dictation of RSS or political party at the Centre as “baseless”, Taba disclosed that the demands for creation of DIFCA was one of the long standing demands of IFSCAP since its inception in the year 1999.

Categorically denying any pressure from any political party or influential group, IFSCAP while strongly defending the move of the government asserted that before converting to Christianity they (ACF) were also believers of indigenous faith.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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