New Delhi | Lakhs of members from various tribal communities from across the nation gathered at Delhi's Red Fort grounds on Sunday and called for the de-listing of converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribe category.
The 'Janajati Sanskritik Samagam', organised by the RSS affiliate Janajati Suraksha Manch and allied groups, was held in the backdrop of the 150th birth anniversary year of tribal icon Birsa Munda at Red Fort grounds.
"This cultural programme is aimed at giving a major push to our long-pending demand for de-listing converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribe category. This issue goes back to the time of tribal leader Kartik Oraon ji, who raised it before the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in the late 1960s," Maalaya Jigdung of the Janjati Suraksha Manch, Assam prant, said.
Jigdung asserted that the mobilisation will help build wider national support for a constitutional amendment under Article 342.
Organisers claimed that nearly 1.5 lakh people from over 500 tribal communities across the country participated in the event.
"This has been one of our oldest demands and the core objective behind the formation of the Janjati Suraksha Manch. Through this programme, we have showcased tribal cultural identity while also strengthening our movement for de-listing," Jigdung told PTI.
The event began with cultural processions from five locations in the national capital -- Rajghat Chowk, Ramlila Maidan, Ajmeri Gate Chowk, Qudsia Bagh near Kashmiri Gate and Shyamgiri Temple near Shastri Park Bus Depot. The rallies, covering around 2.5 to 3.5 kilometres, converged at the Red Fort grounds.
Participants dressed in traditional attire carried tribal flags, beat drums and performed folk dances as they marched through Delhi's streets.
Groups from Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar and several other states took part in the event, which organisers described as the "largest tribal cultural mobilisation of its kind".
Kartik Oraon, a prominent tribal leader from Bihar and former Congress MP, had submitted memoranda signed by hundreds of MPs in 1967 and 1970 seeking the removal of Scheduled Tribe benefits for tribals who had converted to Christianity or Islam.
Balaram Phangcho, organising secretary of the North East Janajati Dharm Sanskriti Suraksha Manch from Assam's Karbi Anglong district, said around 2,000 to 2,500 people had travelled from his district alone.
"This kind of programme is being organised for the first time. We have to protect the very existence of tribal communities. Those who have converted, especially to Islam or Christianity, should be removed from the Scheduled Tribe category. De-listing should be done through an amendment under Article 342," he said.
Phangcho mentioned that people had travelled from remote villages because they believed the issue is linked to the survival of tribal identity and traditions.
Stressing the link between identity and culture, he said, "My identity is my culture -- if my culture does not survive, neither will I."
Shanti Bikas Chakma from Tripura said the gathering will help protect tribal religion, culture and traditions.
"This is the first time we are seeing such a programme organised at this scale. People from so many tribal communities have come together with one message," Chakma said.
Chakma also thanked the Delhi government and volunteers for arrangements related to accommodation, food and transport for participants arriving in special trains and buses from different states.
Janajati Suraksha Manch was formed in 2006 to campaign for the removal of ST benefits for tribals who had converted to other religions.
New Delhi | Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will not affect tribals in any way and urged the community not to fall for "conspiracies" and misinformation being spread over the issue.
Addressing a tribal conclave -- Janjati Sanskritik Samagam -- organised by Janjati Suraksha Manch to mark the 150th birth anniversary year of Birsa Munda at Red Fort grounds, Shah said special provisions have been made in BJP-ruled states implementing the UCC to keep tribal communities out of its ambit.
"A conspiracy has now begun claiming that the Uniform Civil Code will deprive tribal communities of their culture, traditions and their right to live according to their customs," Shah said.
"Today, from this stage, as the home minister in the Narendra Modi government, I want to make it absolutely clear that no provision of the UCC is going to be imposed upon tribal communities or Vanvasi society," he said.
Wherever BJP governments (in states) have implemented the UCC, the Narendra Modi dispensation has ensured that all tribal communities remain outside its purview, Shah said.
The home minister urged tribal communities not to fear the proposed law and appealed to people to spread awareness in villages and forest regions.
"I want to tell everyone spreading confusion that the UCC will not interfere with the traditions and customs of any tribal or Vanvasi brother or sister," he said.
"Take this message to every village, every region, the hills and forests, and make every tribal community aware that there is no need to fear the UCC," Shah added.
Referring to Naxalism, Shah said the country is moving towards becoming free from the problem and claimed tribal development has suffered for decades due to violence.
"Today, in this Kumbh of tribal communities, I can proudly say that our country is moving towards becoming fully free from the Naxal problem," he said.
"Those who stalled the development of tribal society through violence caused the deaths of thousands of tribal people. We are now moving completely out of that crisis. Now the time has come for rapid development in tribal regions, hills and forests," Shah added.
The home minister also spoke against religious conversions in tribal areas and said no one has the right to forcibly convert another person's faith.
"Our Constitution makers gave every individual the right to live with dignity according to their original faith and traditions. No greed, temptation or inducement should be used to change anyone's religion," Shah said.
"Those who are trying to create divisions should understand that today's gathering of tribal communities sends a very strong message to them," he said, adding that tribal communities have remained deeply connected to nature worship and traditional beliefs.
Shah also attacked previous Congress governments over tribal welfare spending and claimed that the Modi government has significantly increased the budget for the community.
"Earlier, the total budget for tribal welfare was only Rs 28,000 crore. Narendra Modi ji increased it to Rs 1.54 lakh crore," he said.