Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Sep 18: During a high level meeting held on August 3 last at the Raj Bhavan, which was attended by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin, along with ministers and top officials of state government, Governor of Arunachal P B Acharya reportedly raised the issue of alleged forceful conversion in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts.
As per the minutes of meeting available with this daily, the Governor emphasized that due to shortcoming in socio-economic development, forced conversion is rising in the state, especially in the three mentioned districts.
Governor Acharya has sought immediate attention and necessary action to stop it. Though the Governor alleged that forceful conversion is taking place, but so far no official complaint has been received in this regard.
While talking to this daily, an official of Tirap district administration stated that till date they have never received any such complaint.
This daily also contacted the Raj Bhavan to know what prompted Governor Acharya to raise the issue of ‘forceful’ conversion.
When contacted, Secretary to Governor Vinod P Kavle asked to mail the questions regarding the issue but did not respond even after two days.
This daily had specifically asked whether the Governor has received any written complaint of forceful conversion from the TCL districts.
Governor Acharya, who was a star RSS Pracharak and has spent years working in the North East region, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, has been alleged of behaving more like a Pracharak than Governor.
“It seems the Governor is finding it difficult to make a transition from Pracharak to Raj Bhavan. There are so many issues concerning the three districts, including Chakma-Hajong refugee issue, serious under-development and most importantly the terror created by underground groups. Instead of talking about these issues, he seems more focussed on religion. This is absurd and smacks of religious politics being unleashed on the peace-loving people of Arunachal Pradesh,” said a resident of Khonsa.
The RSS for long has been alleging that Christian missionaries are converting tribal people, which have been vehemently denied by the church leaders. With the Governor himself at the forefront raising the issue of religious conversion, the issue is set to rock the state.
