India, Feb. 17 -- The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF), a leading Christian body in Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday staged a mass hunger strike across multiple district and sub-divisional headquarters, demanding the repeal of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, terming it as "discriminatory" and "unconstitutional".

The protest comes amid the state government's decision to implement the law, which had remained dormant for decades, following a Gauhati high court directive in September 2024.

The Act was originally introduced to prevent forced religious conversions through coercion or inducement, and it prescribes strict penalties, including up to two years in prison and a fine of Rs.10,000, for violations.

Despite its existen...