Tribals call for spl House session on ‘delisting’

: The tribal groups in Jharkhand on Friday demanded a special session in the state assembly on the ‘delisting’ of those tribals who take advantage of Scheduled Caste (SC) status despite converting to other religions.

The tribals raised the demand while staging a demonstration organised under the aegis of Janjatiya Suraksha Manch (JSM) near Raj Bhawan.

According to the protesters, the purpose of the demonstration was to draw the attention of the state government towards the injustice faced by those tribes who are being marginalised by those who have converted their religion.

“To date, many facilities have been enjoyed by the converted people who are in a much better position economically and educationally than the tribals who follow their traditional traditions,” said Megha Oraon, JSM Ranchi unit spokesperson.

Earlier, JSM had raised the demand by organising a ‘Delisting Ulgulan Maharally’ on December 24 last year. Padma Bhushan Karia Munda, a JSM patron, addressed the rally.

JSM regional coordinator Sandeep Oraon echoed the same sentiment, saying a well-planned conspiracy is underway to end the rights of tribal society by violating various acts under the 5th Schedule.

“We demand from the government that there should be a high-level investigation of the church and cemetery lands in the 5th Schedule areas, and the land identified by the Waqf Board in the 5th Schedule areas should also be investigated,” Sandeep said.

“There should be an investigation into the converted people who have occupied various government posts by violating the rights of the original tribal community. A committee should be formed in the Assembly to monitor tribal problems,” Sandeep added. JSM state convenor Hinduva Oraon said: “Just as the Sarna Code has been passed by calling a special session in the Assembly and sent it to the Government of India, similarly, the demand for delisting should also be passed by calling a special session in the Assembly.”

JSM media-in-charge Soma Oraon said that tribal leader and Lok Sabha member Karthik Oraon had given an application to the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1970 supporting the demand, but the application was neither tabled in the Lok Sabha nor rejected; rather, it was put on hold.

“Today, we want to remind the government again regarding that application containing the signatures of 348 Lok Sabha members,” Soma Oraon said.

Meanwhile, Congress executive president and tribal leader Bandhu Tirkey expressed concern over the demand.

“It is a part of divisive politics well planned by RSS and BJP. Tribal seats will be reduced if the demand for delisting is fulfilled,” Tirkey added.

According to him, “instead of raising such a demand, proper attention is required to be given to the proper education of tribals.”