Bhopal | Arguing that more than 22 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's population is tribal and alleging that efforts are being made to destroy their identity and existence, senior Congress leader Umang Singhar on Sunday said tribal communities should have their own code.

He addressed an event at the Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal on the occasion of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, organised under the aegis of the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Development Council.

More than 22 tribal organisations participated in the event, where tribal members dressed in traditional attire danced enthusiastically to the beat of drums and cymbals.

Singhar, President of the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Development Council and the leader of opposition in the state legislative assembly, said tribal communities are not begging, but are demanding their rights.

"Tribal communities constitute over 22 per cent of the population in Madhya Pradesh, but even today, they are being deprived of their rights and efforts are being made to destroy their identity and existence," Singhar said.

Exhorting tribals to work together to protect their identity, culture, and rights, the Congress leader highlighted his tribal roots and empathised with hardships faced by tribal communities.

"If there was a separate code for tribal people during the British era, why shouldn't tribal communities have their own tribal code today? This is the demand of over 22 per cent of the tribal community in Madhya Pradesh, and this demand will be strongly raised," he said.

Vowing to fight for the tribal code and preserve the tribal identity legacy for the next generation, Singhar said though he is affiliated with a political party, he will speak about tribal rights "100 times."

"The tribal community is a self-respecting community. They are demanding their rights and not begging for securing the rights," he added.

The opposition leader said the tribal youth of Madhya Pradesh have awakened and are aware of their rights, identity, and future.