Jharkhand: Thousands take part in rally against BJP's 'attempts to create rift among tribals'

Ranchi: Thousands of people on Sunday participated in a massive rally in Ranchi, protesting BJP's alleged attempts to 'create a rift among tribals'.

The Adivasi Ekta Maha rally was organised in Morabadi Ground in Ranchi as a counter to 'delisting rally' of Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM), an affiliate of RSS-backed Vanvasi Kalya Kendra, held in the same venue in December last year.

Members of various tribal organisations from several districts took part in the rally. They also demanded Sarna religious code. The Sarna code will is a long-pending demand of the tribes to be enumerated as a distinct religious community. Tribal votes assume critical significance in Jharkhand as 28 of the 81 assembly seats and five of the 14 Lok Sabha seats are reserved for Schedule Tribes (ST).

Congress working president Bandhu Tirkey, who was the chief convener of the event, alleged that BJP and RSS-affiliated organisations have put all their efforts into creating a rift among tribals in the name of 'delisting'.

'They do not know that tribals are united and differences cannot be created among them,' he said.

Former minister Geetashree Oraon alleged that tribals are being ignored by the Centre.

'Tribals have been demanding a separate Sarna religious code but the Centre is silent over the issue,' she said.

The leaders also slammed the Union government over the ED's arrest of JMM leader and former chief minister Hemant Soren.

The JSM had on December 24 organised a 'delisting rally', demanding that tribals who have converted to Christianity and Islam be 'delisted' from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.