Ranchi, October 12 (). Amidst the ongoing movement by the Kudmi community in Jharkhand demanding tribal status, tribal organizations have now come out openly against it. On Sunday, thousands of tribal men and women from different districts of the state took out a huge protest rally against this demand in Ranchi.
People from the tribal community participated in the march from Morabadi to Padmashree Ramdayal Munda Football Stadium with traditional attire, bows and arrows, spears, sickles and Sarna flags. Speakers at the public meeting organized after the rally said, “This demand of the Kudmi community is a direct attack on our identity and reservation rights given by the Constitution, which will not be tolerated at any cost.”
Ajay Tirkey, president of the Central Sarna Committee, said, “This is a fight for our survival. The tribals are not weak, we are united for our rights. The Tribal Research Institute and the courts have already rejected the demand of the Kudmis, yet some people are instigating it for vote politics.”
The leaders said that the claim of Kudmi community is completely wrong. He said, “Kudmi, Kurmi and Mahato – all three are one and were never tribals. If they get the status of Scheduled Tribe, then the existence of tribal society in the entire country will be in danger.”
The speakers also alleged that the motive of Kudmi leaders was only to gain political mileage. He said, “Last year, the Kudmi community had organized a Rail Roko movement, but not a single case was registered. Now these people are playing with the Constitution.”
Tribal women participating in the rally said, “The tribal women of Jharkhand are lionesses, we will not let anyone snatch our rights and identity.” During this, resentment was also seen against JLKM MLAs Jairam Mahato and Devendranath Mahato. This ‘Save Tribal Existence Outrage Maharally’ was organized under the banner of Save Tribal Existence Morcha.
Members of many organizations including Central Sarna Committee, Tribal Nari Sena, Tribal Area Security Committee, Tribal Unity Manch, Tribal Rights Forum participated in it. Slogans like ‘We will not let our rights be snatched away’ and ‘Tribal unity zindabad’ kept echoing during the rally.
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SNC/DKP