Lagatar24 Network
Ranchi, Dec.23: A delegation of all parties except the BJP under the leadership of state tribal welfare minister Champai Soren today met Governor Ramesh Bais and handed him a memorandum addressed to the President of India demanding a separate column or code in the census form to identify followers of Sarna.
Those represented by the JMM in the delegation included senior leader Stephen Marandi besides Deepak Birua and Vikas Munda. Representatives of Congress included Bandhu Tirkey, Rajesh Kacchap and Naman Vixel Kongari. Ajsu party representatives included Lambodar Mahto and Deosharan Bhagat. Besides, the representatives of RJD and left parties were also present.
Soren while handing over the memorandum underlined the importance of Sarna code and said it will help protect the identity of tribes in Jharkhand. Stressing upon the need of protection of tribal identity he said tribes of Jharkhand have a history of more than 200 years in each commissionaire of the state and it has been struggling to protect its forest and land for a long time.
Bandhu Tirkey said once the census of the tribe is done properly, the amount sent under the tribal sub plan will be properly utilized. “When Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians have their own religious identity why not tribals,” he questioned.
