Ranchi: Under the pre-declared programme of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC), a statewide protest was held today in front of Raj Bhavan, Ranchi, demanding the inclusion of the Sarna religion code in the national census.
A large number of Congress workers from various districts of Jharkhand arrived in a procession from the Congress Bhavan dressed in traditional tribal attire. The protest was led by JPCC president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, and senior Congress leaders including AICC permanent invitee and Jharkhand in-charge K. Raju, co-incharge Dr. Sirivella Prasad, and Pranav Jha were present as chief guests.
While addressing the gathering, K. Raju stated that the Sarna religion code is a fundamental right of tribal communities, and it is Congress’s responsibility to protect it. “We have raised this issue repeatedly, and now we’ve taken to the streets. Soon, a similar protest will be held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, followed by a delegation meeting with the President of India to press for its implementation,” he said.
He said, “Just like the three farm laws were repealed and caste census was approved in the Cabinet due to public pressure, we will ensure the Sarna religion is included in the seventh column of the census. We will not allow tribal identity to be erased.”
JPCC president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh accused the central government of conspiring against the rights and identity of tribals. “We passed a proposal for Sarna code in the state assembly and sent it to the Centre, but the Modi government wants to use tribals merely as a vote bank. Their slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is a lie—what they truly want is the destruction of tribals, Dalits, and minorities,” he said.
AICC secretary Pranav Jha said tribals are the original inhabitants of India, worshippers of nature, and have always been discriminated against by BJP, which refers to them as “Vanvasi” instead of “Adivasi”. Minister Radhakrishna Kishore declared, “The time has come for action, not requests. The Congress is fully prepared to fight for the Sarna religion code.” Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey added that the Sarna religion is our identity, and the Centre refuses to recognize tribal priests, religious sites, and traditions. She alleged that the central government holds hatred against tribals.
The protest was coordinated by JPCC working president Shahzada Anwar. Several senior leaders addressed the gathering including Bandhu Tirkey, Dr. Rameshwar Oraon, Viksal Kongadi, Bhushan Bara, Mamta Devi, Rajesh Thakur, Dr. Pradeep Balmuchu, Furkan Ansari, Subodh Kant Sahay, Badal Patralekh, K.N. Tripathi, Kedar Paswan, Gunjan Singh, Josai Mardi, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Ravindra Singh, Rakesh Sinha, Satish Paul Munjini, Sanjay Lal Paswan, Abhilash Sahu, Rajan Verma, Jay Shankar Pathak, Alok Kumar Dubey, Dr. Rajesh Gupta, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo, Gajendra Singh, Dr. Kumar Raja, and Dr. Rakesh Kiran Mahto.