Congress working president and senior tribal leader Bandhu Tirkey, who is also a member of the state coordination committee (formed last year to advise Jharkhand government), has planned Adivasi Ekta (tribal unity) Maharally on February 4 at Ranchi.

The move is being seen as an effort to counter the rally held on Christmas Eve (Sunday) at Morabadi ground in Ranchi demanding the delisting of those tribals who have converted to Christianity and other religions from the ST category.

“We will not allow tribals to become tools of selfish elements just for the sake of votes and make them aware of the serious issues confronting indigenous people and the nefarious designs by certain groups to divide tribals in the garb of religion by raising issues of delisting across the country. It is surprising that those leaders who had been MP several times and even been Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha (hinting at Karia Munda) are raising these issues a few months before Lok Sabha polls,” said Tirkey.

Hundreds of tribals had participated in the rally organised on Sunday by Janjati Suraksha Manch, alleged by several social outfits as a wing of RSS-backed Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra, demanding the delisting of tribals who have converted to other religions from the ST list. The rally had among its main speakers former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and former BJP MP Karia Munda.

“We will also hold our rally at Morabadi ground under the aegis of Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (a socio-political outfit) and the tribals will be made aware of the actual ground situation through in-depth discussion on the issue of tribals who are simple-hearted and due to this, it is very easy to trick them,” said Tirkey.

“Several rights of the tribals given under Congress governments are being taken away one by one by the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and if this situation continues, the tribals will lose forests, land and their culture,” alleged Tirkey citing the recent tweaking of the Forest Rights Act.

“In Jharkhand, uprooting tribals from their land is continuing at a very fast pace and today the negative changes in demography from the perspective of tribals are visible in the big cities of Jharkhand including Ranchi. Tribals are feeling cheated,” said Tirkey.

He appealed to the tribals to forget differences based on religion and be united with their culture.

“It is very important to protect the grassroots nature of Jharkhand and keep the mutual unity strong in every situation, otherwise the tribals will continue to be uprooted from their ancestral land,” said Tirkey.

CPM state general secretary Prakash Viplav has termed the delisting demand of the Manch as a communal agenda of the RSS-BJP.

A statement issued by the CPM leader on Saturday states that out of 26.21 per cent tribals, more than 14 per cent are tribal Christians and if delisting is done, this 14 per cent land will become general and will give an opportunity for transfer of lands. With the reduction of 14 per cent tribal Christians after delisting, several seats in panchayat, municipal corporations, MLA and MPs will cease to be reserved for ST.