Janajati Suraksha Mancha holds rally for delisting converted tribals from ST list amid severe protest

In his address at the gathering, Assam JSM convener Binode Kumbang said an effort was being deliberately made to confuse tribals in terms of their religion, community and culture. He said tribal identity pertains to their language, culture, and tradition inherited from parents and the moment they lose traditions, culture, religions and language, tribal identity is lost. “The JSM has struggled to hold workshops, rallies, and awareness across the country, not for any political party or to raise funds for any organisation but for the sake of culture, religion and language of the communities. All communities should follow their language, religion and culture. This is the objective of JSM. We shall spread our call across the country that those who have left their culture, religion and language should be excluded from our community,” he said.

The demand for delisting converted tribals from the ST list is not new but started from the then Congress M P Kartik Oraon, who raised the issue in Parliament. A subsequent Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report purportedly found in 1967 that 80 per cent of converted people were enjoying benefits meant for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Kumbang said. “Article 342 of the Indian Constitution says backwards, those who run with customary laws, it is not based on any religion but for those who leave the religion, slowly leave their culture and abuse their community”, he said.

The rally was held amid severe protests from all opposition political parties who condemned the move, termed it “unconstitutional”. (Express Photo)

He said the Mancha is now preparing for a ‘Chalo Delhi’ movement, where they would submit a memorandum to the President and Prime Minister to bring an amendment in Article 342 to exclude converted tribals from the ST list. “Many are saying we are demanding this based on religion. It is not true. We are demanding to delist converted tribals since anyone converting can’t follow previous culture,” he said.

Padmasri Bikram Bahadur Jamatia said the Tripura ADC was formed for tribal autonomy, but tribals don’t have a place with dignity there. He claimed tribal societies were deprived of religion with political intervention during the erstwhile Left regime. “Tribals were taught that religion is opium. Now we have got the government to accept the customary laws to be codified for any settlement of issues in the tribal society,” Jamatia said.

The veteran tribal leader said people from indigenous communities have historically never gone to courts, but rather settled different cases, even murder cases, with customary laws. “We never said we don’t obey the government laws. But every society has its own rules and regulations. They have Samajpati in every area; elected representatives. The Samajpatis need to be recognised, their certifications need to be accepted by the local administration like gram panchayat Pradhan,” he said.

Speaking about the Tripura ADC run by TIPRA Motha, the Padma Shri awardee said the ADC now has principal officers for different departments and brought advisors with huge salaries who want to teach tribals about law. “We want autonomy in tribal council, if it becomes advisor or party rule. We don’t want this ADC. We want customary law for peace. We have suppressed insurgents in our samaj with community intervention in the past,” he said. While acknowledging the incumbent BJP-led government’s efforts to recognise tribal Samajpati, Jamatia also pointed out the fact that tribals are converting to other religions.

Retired district magistrate from Madhya Pradesh Prakash Singh Uikey, who joined the rally today, cited examples from his state where people from the Gond tribal community converted to Islam and still retained their ST certificate and made a public display of tearing a copy of the certificate. He said tribals are deprived of legitimate government benefits at the hands of converted tribals and said, “This injustice has been happening for the last 70 years. Those who convert are destroying our culture. Thirty-five per cent of tribal people became Christians. The day isn’t far when we have to go to a museum to see the culture of Tripuri or Reang.”

Stating that Article 342 of the Constitution and subsequent protective constitutional apparatus like 5th and 6th Schedule were made for the protection of unique culture, customs of tribals, protect community isolation, geographical isolation etc, he alleged that previous governments over the last 70 years, including the administration of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, acted under pressure of foreign funding agencies and deprived genuine tribals.

He expressed hopes that the incumbent BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre would return to power in 2024 general elections and said it is expected to amend Article 342. “If the entire IPC and CrPC, Article 370, etc, can change, then 342 can change as well. We believe this government is sensitive,” he said.

The rally was held amid severe protests from all opposition political parties who condemned the move, termed it “unconstitutional”, and said it was being held to create Manipur-like conflict in Tripura by dividing people on ethnic lines.

Tripura has a population of 37 lakh people per the 2011 Census, of which roughly 30 per cent are tribals. (Express Photo)

Reacting to the rally today, CPIM state secretary and former Parliamentarian Jitendra Chaudhary said, “The culture JSM is speaking about isn’t tribal culture in the first place. The BJP is spreading deculturation among tribals and non-tribals across the country”. The Communist leader reasoned that India’s cultural and religious tradition is based on tolerance and said “Sanatan and Hindu Dharma” is centred around a love for all living beings.

“They said about Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means the whole world is our relative. But in reality, the BJP and the RSS are tainting Hinduism in the name of Hindutva. They are destroying our country’s culture. They are training guns on others for their need to spread violence”, Chaudhury said. He claimed people didn’t turn up in large numbers at the JSM rally today and said, “I’m happy that people haven’t stepped in their trap and that the Lotus agacha will dry up. Their much-hyped gathering flopped today. We are very happy.”

Tripura has a population of 37 lakh people per the 2011 Census, of which roughly 30 per cent are tribals.

Reacting to the JSM rally, TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion-turned-politician Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said in an audio message, “Those who want to spread hatred or make Tiprasa fight with Tiprasa. I have heard some people’s statements. The Government of India has awarded you but it doesn’t mean you have to get sold out. It’s alright that some got Padma Shri, some got Padma Vibhushan, and some got something else. But don’t forget that a Tiprasa mother gave birth to you. You got your existence from our community.”

He accused the JSM leaders of spreading hatred to make tribals of the state fight among each other and said, “..you want to divide families, make brother fight with brother. I’ll spread love and positivity in 2024. You do whatever you want to do. Those who want to give something to people with love will win at last. We’ll not get anything by dividing people on religious lines. If you think you’ll get it, go and do slavery for another 70 years. A slave always remains a slave; a king stays a king.”