Ranchi: The political climate in Jharkhand is currently charged, with the Sarna religion code emerging as a central issue. Both the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress have taken up the matter with renewed fervour, overshadowing earlier discussions around the caste census and the implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, or PESA. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has chosen to push PESA as
its key political weapon. As a result, these three issues — the Sarna code, PESA, and the caste census — have become the focal point of political debates across the state.JMM and Congress workers have taken to the streets, staging protests and demonstrations in support of the Sarna code.
The BJP, on the other hand, is using press conferences to make its position clear. However, the reality is that all three parties carry historical baggage on these issues, with their respective records often showing inconsistency and political opportunism. The Congress party has been accused of removing the separate census column for tribals after independence. Until 1941, tribal communities had a distinct column in the census, but it was omitted in the first post-independence census. Despite efforts by tribal leaders like Kartik Oraon, Congress, which remained in power for decades, did not reinstate a separate identity for tribal people in the census framework. Critics argue that this contributed to the erosion of distinct tribal identity.
The BJP has long considered tribal communities as part of the broader Hindu fold, a view actively promoted by the RSS. While the party now strongly advocates for the Sarna code and PESA, its historical stance often aligns with a cultural integrationist approach rather than recognition of tribal distinctiveness.
The JMM too faces criticism for its selective advocacy. While the party is aggressively pushing the Sarna code now, critics point out that during Congress or UPA regimes at the Centre, JMM never prioritized the issue. This has led to allegations of political convenience rather than principled support for tribal rights.
On the caste census and PESA, all three parties appear to be playing different tunes. The BJP has recently sharpened its focus on PESA. Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, through a press conference, accused the Hemant Soren government of being anti-tribal by not implementing PESA rules in the state. The BJP claims that PESA, passed by Parliament, is a powerful tool.