Members of the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) on Saturday carried out rallies across Arunachal Pradesh to protest a high-level committee’s report that allegedly went against a controversial church in Tawang, a district dominated by the Buddhist Monpa community.
The ACF said the report was biased against the Christians and a recommendation for relocating the church was not feasible. The three-member panel on the Tawang church issue is headed by State Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung.
The construction of the church in Tawang was stopped in October 2020 following complaints by two groups — the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh and the Monpa Mimang Tsogpa — that the structure was illegal. The district’s Land Revenue and Survey officer later lodged a first information report against the pastor concerned, who was arrested but released on bail.
