Members of human rights outfits from different parts of Kolhan assembled in Chaibasa on Sunday and gave a call of “BJP bhagao, Jharkhand jodo, loktantra bachao (oust the BJP, unify Jharkhand, save democracy)” for the 2024 general elections.

Nearly 150 members from three districts of East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan that make up the Kolhan region held the daylong meeting at Chaibasa. The meeting was organised by the Loktantrik Rashtra Nirman Abhiya, Jharkhand Janadhikhar Mahasabha, Jharkhand Kisan Parishad and Food Security Jan Adhikar Manch, among others.

The inaugural session was addressed by journalist and writer Bhasha Singh, tribal rights activist Kumar Chandra Mardi and social worker Jaikishan Godsora.

A social worker from Jamshedpur and a member of the Mahasabha, Manthan, explained the threat posed to the social fabric of the country by the Narendra Modi-led government and the BJP.

“It is no longer a secret how dangerous the Modi government and the BJP are for the country. Movements have been started in different parts of the country under the Loktantrik Rashtra Nirman Abhiyan. In Jharkhand, this initiative is being coordinated by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha. We had a state-level meeting at Ranchi and will now hold similar discussions covering all the Lok Sabha constituencies of the state,” Manthan added.

Journalist and writer Singh said the concept of the country is being based on a particular religion.

“A symbol of the monarchy — Sengol — was installed in the new Parliament amid chanting by Hindu saints and priests. This is a declaration to make the country a Hindu nation and to establish Brahminism... A nation where Hindus, especially the upper castes, would be first-class citizens and Muslims and other minority religions and communities like Adivasis and Dalits would be second-class citizens. Such a nation will not be run by the Constitution but by the rules of the Hindu religion,” Singh said.

“The absence of a single woman in the inauguration of the new Parliament building and the presence of only male priests show the position of women in a Hindu nation. This is also reflected in the harassment of women wrestlers. The BJP MP facing accusations, instead of being arrested, was present during the inauguration of the new Parliament,” Singh added.

The speakers said the Singhbhum constituency has shown that the JMM and the Congress have defeated the BJP whenever they have fought elections together.

“In the last 25 years, the BJP has faced competition twice when the JMM and the Congress had a strong grassroots alliance. It is clear that Opposition unity is very important to uproot the BJP in all the Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand in 2024,” Jerai said.