A row has erupted after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led state government issued a notification seeking applications from the members of the Christian community for pilgrimage in Goa under the “Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Tirth Darshan Yojna”.
According to the notification issued by the government on June 22, Christian residents of the state hailing from the Below Poverty Level (BPL) category have been asked to submit applications for a pilgrimage to Goa in the month of June-July.
A total of 88 beneficiaries will be selected under the scheme on a first come first served policy who will be then taken to Goa for the pilgrimage between the last week of June and the first week of July. Application under the scheme will be accepted till 5 pm of June 29, read the notification issued by the government.
However, the State government’s move has not boded well with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) who in turn has termed it against the sentiments of the tribal society and raised serious concern over the misuse of funds by the state government.
Taking to the X, national spokesperson of VHP, Vinod Bansal while launching a vicious attack on the JMM led coalition government said that “The State which was formed to protect the religious and cultural beliefs of the tribal society and for its welfare, the government has left and it is busy wasting money on the missionaries who are involved in illegal conversion of the natives”.
The Jharkhand government will now facilitate a free pilgrimage to Christians of the state in Goa from this month, the question is that is it right for a secular government to facilitate such communal travel (Yatra)? Added Bansal.
He further highlighted that why is the tribal society’s money spent on Christians asserting that he had only heard about pilgrimage of Hindus how can it be of Christians?
The VHP leader further emphasised that if a Yatra has to be organised than it should be of the pilgrimage of the tribal society, such as holy places associated with Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Tantya Bheel, Tilaka Manjhi, Thalakkal Chanthu, Budhhu Bhagat, Sidhu and Kanhu, Rendo Manjhi, Chakra Visoi etc.
जो राज्य जनजातीय समाज की धार्मिक, सांस्कृतिक मान्यताओं की रक्षा और उसके कल्याण के लिए बना, उसे छोड़ कर सरकार उन मिशनरियों पर पैसा लुटाने में लगी है जो कि वहां के मूल निवासियों के अवैद्य धर्मान्तरण में लगे हैं। अब झारखंड सरकार इसी माह राज्य के ईसाइयों को फ्री में गोवा तीर्थ दर्शन… pic.twitter.com/QT9f0yXF1v
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) June 24, 2024
What is the connection of Churches of Goa to Jharkhand, will the said step not encourage those who carry out conversion in the state? The government should immediately put a halt on this decision and spend this money on the welfare of the tribal society, not on those who exploit them on religious and cultural grounds, added Bansal.
Demands to de-list those who have embraced any other religion
It is noteworthy that of late the tribal- dominated state of Jharkhand has witnessed a string of rallies and demonstrations taken out by the tribal community demanding a delisting exercise to identify those among the community who have embraced any other religion such as Islam and Christianity.
During the gatherings organised in January this year, the community members also submitted memorandums to the then Chief Minister via district administrations seeking passing of a resolution linked to de-listing in the state assembly. The rallies were organised under the banner of Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM), a tribal body associated with the demand of de-listing for long.
जनजातियों की मांग, सरकार विशेष सत्र बुलाकर जल्द से जल्द डी-लिस्टिंग बिल पास#DILISTING pic.twitter.com/2Auo0lE9Qs
— Janjati Suraksha Manch (@JSManch) February 3, 2024
Notably, the demand of a resolution on delisting picked up pace after the Jharkhand government in the year 2020 passed a resolution in the State assembly for a separate Sarna religion code in the next census and submitted it to the Union Government via Governor.
It must be noted that the State of Jharkhand has a significant population (Around 26 per cent according to the 2011 census) of the tribal community who according to reports are losing its dominance in specific pockets given their gradual decline in regions such as Santhal which encompasses districts like Godda, Sahibganj, Pakur, and Dumka.
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