Jharkhand: “Rally of converts” says JSM, as a section of tribal community and Christian outfits held ‘Ekta Maha rally’

The debate over Sarna religion code and delisting has been intensified in the State of Jharkhand, where the tribal (Janjati) community resides in a significant number. Taking it further, a significant number of people gathered against the demand of delisting, (a proposed exercise to identify those who have converted to other religions echoed by the tribal community for years) on Sunday, February 4.

The “Adivasi Ekta Maharally” called by a number of local organisations including a few Christian outfit and leaders from the Congress party, was organised at the Morhabadi ground of the State’s capital Ranchi on February 4. The said gathering was reportedly called against the grand De-listing Ulgulan Maha Rally held under the banner of Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM), on December 24 in Ranchi.

In the rally organised on Sunday, a number of speakers, including former Congress MLA, Bandhu Tirkey and former minister Gitashree Oraon alleged the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to divide the tribal community on de-listing.

The rally has been organised in the wake of protest rally held under the banner of JSM at around 24 districts across states on January 31, where the demonstrators also submitted a memorandum seeking a State government resolution on de-listing.

Addressing the gathering at Morhabadi ground, Congress leader Gitashree Oraon said that we have already been delisted, we are demanding the Sarna religion code, and we have been de-listed by removing the Sarna religion code in census.

Janjati Suraksha Manch slams rally

Meanwhile, launching a vicious attack on the gathering called on Sunday the JSM said that the said gathering was called by the converts. “The rally has been proven to be a Christian rally as Janjati people have not participated in it, leading to a flop show.

The converted Christians are frustrated after the Ulgulan grand rally organised in December; they are now aware that the benefits of reservation availed by them would not be available for them anymore as the tribal community has woken up, said Soma Oraon, media-incharge of JSM, Jharkhand.

Notably, earlier Oraon had also made an appeal that the Janjati Society should not participate in the rally called by Bandhu Tirkey on Sunday, as he is not from the Janjati community but a Christian. The rally called for on Sunday is a gathering of Converts, the people of the Janjati society should not participate in it, added the other workers of the JSM.

आज की रैली में जनजाति समाज के लोगों को शामिल नहीं होने के लिए जनजाति सुरक्षा मंच के कार्यकर्ताओं ने अपील की है…जनजाति कार्यकर्ताओं ने कहां कि ये रैली सिर्फ वो सिर्फ धर्मांतरितों का है । इस लिए इस रैली में जनजाति समाज के लोग शामिल न हो ! #DELISTING pic.twitter.com/WYxtbMlsF3

— Janjati Suraksha Manch (@JSManch) February 4, 2024

Meanwhile, alleging that the rally was motivated by politics, Phoolchand Tirkey, national president of the Sarna Samiti said that the Ekta rally called for on Sunday is an attempt to mislead the community; the traditions and culture of the tribal society was mocked at the Christian Missionaries Ekta Rally, even the religiously sacred Sarna flag was not spared.

Contention over Sarna religion code and de-listing

It is worth mentioning here that a section of the people from the Janjati community have been raising their voice for a separate Sarna religion code in the census exercise over the years.

Those who are in favour of the inclusion of the separate code, which also includes a significant number of those who have converted to Christianity, claim that the worship method practiced by them differs from that of those who follow the Sanatan Dharma; hence, a separate religion code should be included for them in the census.

Though the demand for a separate Sarna code has been so far met with a fierce opposition by a significant section of the Janjati community itself, who have time and again asserted that the community is an unalienable part of the Sanatan fold and no such separate code should be accommodated in the census.

A number of leaders among the community who are up against the demand for a separate Sarna code also alleged that the people associated with such demands are acting against the welfare of the community and are supporting those who want to create a rift among the community for political benefits.

Additionally, the Janjati community has also been seen hitting the streets across states seeking a nationwide delisting exercise to identify those among the community who have changed their religion but still own a scheduled tribe or caste certificate and are availing the benefits of reservation.

Notably, more than 250 such rallies have already been organised across the nation under the banner of Janjati Suraksha Manch alone within a span of only two years.

In the rallies organised across separate states such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himanchal, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Tripura, Jharkhand and others, hundreds of thousands of people from the community were seen marching with placards and banners, raising their concern over the growing cases of conversion and inappropriate benefits being availed of by those who have converted to other religion.