Congress leader Rahul Gandhi played the tribal card addressing back-to-back rallies in two ST-reserved Lok Sabha seats of Singhbhum and Lohardaga of Jharkhand on Tuesday.

The former Congress national president promised to fulfil the long-standing demand of tribals for a separate Sarna dharma code and give original settlers first right over jal (water), jungle (forest) and jameen (land) if voted to power.

Significantly, Jharkhand with over 26 per cent of the tribal population (as per 2011 census) has five ST reserved Lok Sabha seats out of a total of 14 and striking a chord with tribals is considered crucial in the state polity.

“It has been the demand of the tribals and after coming to power we will ensure that the Sarna dharma code is granted to the tribals,” said Rahul.

The majority of tribals in Jharkhand are Sarna followers and nature worshipers. They have been fighting for a separate religious identity for decades and in recent years have staged agitation in Delhi and other parts of the country.

Tribals argue that the implementation of a separate Sarna religious code in census surveys would allow the tribals to be identified as followers of Sarna faith. Tribal organisations have claimed that with the Centre dropping the “Others” option from the religion column for the next census, Sarna adherents would be forced to either skip the column or declare themselves members of one of the six specified religions: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh.

Incarcerated former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren had in June 2022 alleged that the state Assembly had passed a resolution in a special session in 2020 demanding the Sarna dharma code to be included in the census and submitted it through the governor to the Centre. But no decision has been taken by the BJP-led central government on the issue. He had also written a letter to the Prime Minister in this connection in September 2022.

Continuing to stoke tribal sentiments, the Wayanad incumbent MP, Rahul criticised the BJP for calling tribal ‘vanvasis’ instead of the Adivasis.

“We call you Adivasis as you are the original settlers and should have an equal share of natural resources. But they (read BJP) call you ‘vanvasis’ (forest dwellers) as they want to give all the forest lands to industrialists like Adani and Ambani. One day the forests will disappear and then they will ask you to go begging,” said Rahul.

He asserted that their government would give Adivasis first rights over jal, jungle and jameen and return forest lands.

“It is your land but they want it to be given to a few industrialists. We will not allow it. The Adivasis will have the first right over land and natural resources,” stressed Rahul.

Significantly, tribal groups in Jharkhand and other parts of the country have been demanding the repeal of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 which was passed in Parliament last year apprehending that it was a conspiracy to snatch the forest and tribal lands from the tribals without consent of the gram sabhas (village committees of the tribals).

Rahul, who began his address by holding the constitution, claimed leaders of the INDIA bloc are ready to sacrifice their lives to save the constitution and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of working for Adani, Ambani and alleged that he had made 22 people billionaires in his 10-year tenure.

“The BJP wants to confine tribals to roles like domestic help. They never want you to become doctors, engineers and lawyers,” Rahul added.

During his address, Rahul also accused the Modi-led government of putting tribal chief minister (Hemant Soren) behind bars.

“Hemant chootega (he will be released),” he said to which the crowd responded with slogans like “Jail ka tala tutega, Hemant Soren chootega (jail locks will be broken, Hemant Soren will be released).

Hemant was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 night over an alleged money laundering charge in Ranchi and is under judicial custody.

Gandhi also promised to provide one-year apprenticeships to unemployed diploma holders and graduates.

“If voted to power, we will give apprenticeship opportunities to unemployed graduates and diploma holders and pay ₹8,000 per month for a year. We will end the contractual system of appointment so that every youth will get a permanent job and pension,” he added.

Singhbhum and Lohardaga will go to polls on May 13.