Catholic Union calls for government action to protect Christians in India’s northeast facing anti-conversion law threats and ongoing violence.
Newsroom (24/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) The All India Catholic Union (AICU), one of the country’s oldest Catholic lay organizations, has appealed for immediate governmental action to safeguard Christian communities across India’s northeastern states as they face escalating social pressure and targeted violence.
In a statement following its working committee meeting in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, the 107-year-old body warned of “evolving threats from laws, exclusions, and violent attacks,” urging state administrations to uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
“Christian faith is under pressure in these northeastern states,” AICU spokesperson John Dayal told UCA News on February 23. “Governments must reaffirm religious freedom, protect minorities, and promote harmony.”
Revival of Dormant Anti-Conversion Law
The latest flashpoint stems from renewed efforts to operationalize the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 1978 — a law prohibiting religious conversions through force, fraud, or inducement. The act, which has remained dormant for decades due to the absence of implementation rules, is now being reexamined by state authorities.
The AICU warned that activating the old legislation without safeguards could lead to the criminalization of core Christian sacraments such as baptism and provide legal cover for harassment. “The enforcement of this law risks deepening divides and could be misused to intimidate minorities,” the group said in its February 21 communiqué.
Although Christians make up nearly 30 percent of Arunachal’s 1.6 million residents, the state has so far reported no major incidents of sectarian violence. Nevertheless, the Church fears that the resurfacing of anti-conversion policies could set a dangerous precedent for the wider region, particularly amid the growing presence of right-wing organizations aligned with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Ethnic Violence in Manipur Persists
The AICU also expressed grave concern over the prolonged conflict in neighboring Manipur, where ethnic violence between the predominantly Christian Kuki-Zo tribes and members of the Hindu-majority Meitei community has persisted since May 2023.
Now entering its third year, the unrest has claimed over 258 lives, displaced approximately 60,000 people, and destroyed more than 400 churches — infrastructure losses that have devastated Christian-majority districts. Church leaders in Imphal reported that Christian institutions were disproportionately targeted, prompting appeals from United Nations experts for greater protection of vulnerable populations.
Calling for federal intervention, the AICU urged authorities to “strengthen mediation efforts, rebuild destroyed infrastructure, and ensure humanitarian relief” to stabilize the crisis-hit region.
Pressures in Meghalaya and Assam
Beyond Arunachal and Manipur, the AICU drew attention to mounting pressures in Meghalaya, where Christians account for roughly three-quarters of the state’s 3.35 million mostly tribal population.
There, activists have pushed to “delist” Christian tribal groups from India’s roster of Scheduled Tribes — a classification that provides economic support and reserved seats in universities, government jobs, and legislative bodies. Opponents of tribal Christians argue that conversion to Christianity invalidates their claim to indigenous entitlements, a stance the AICU says undermines social equity and constitutional protections.
Similar disputes have surfaced in Assam, where the 2024 Healing Practices Act — originally intended to regulate traditional medicine — is reportedly being used to restrict prayer meetings and Christian healing services. Dayal also cited a December 2025 incident in which a Catholic school’s Christmas crib and decorations were vandalized.
Call for Renewed National Commitment
AICU national president Elias Vaz appealed to both state and federal authorities to restore confidence among minority groups. “It is the duty of state administrations to ensure freedom of religion and belief for all citizens, as enshrined in the constitution, and to prevent vested interests from demonizing minorities, especially Christians,” Vaz said.
The Catholic Union has submitted a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a review of Arunachal’s anti-conversion statute and the initiation of interfaith dialogue to ease communal tensions.
India’s northeast — encompassing Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim — is one of the country’s most ethnically and religiously diverse regions. Christians form a majority in several of these states and manage extensive networks of schools, hospitals, and community services that serve people across faith lines.
Yet, as the AICU warns, the steady spread of exclusionary politics, coupled with sporadic episodes of violence, threatens this legacy of coexistence. For now, the Union’s call stands as both an alarm and an appeal — urging governments to safeguard pluralism at a moment of deepening uncertainty.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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