RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov 12: Organised under the aegis of the Rashtriya Adivasi Samaj Sarna Dharma Raksha Abhiyan, over one thousand from 21 states besides Nepal today participated in the Mahadharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for a Sarna religion code in census form to ensure identity of Sarna followers in the country.
Dharma Guru Bandhan Tigga led the programme, which ended with submission of a memorandum addressed to the President of India besides prime minister, home minister, minister of tribal affairs and Registrar General of India (Census).
Educationist Dr. Karma Oraon said that in independent India, the basic religion of the country is the spiritual dimension of human culture related to nature and not giving a separate religion code to crores of tribals of India is in a way an injustice and a cruel joke has been made.
State President of Kendriya Sarna Sangharsh Samiti, Shiva Kachhap said that the President and the Prime Minister should give religious freedom to Sarna. He said by giving immediate recognition to the Sarna Dharma Code, Sarna followers should be given the privilege of joining the census with dignity.
“It is a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution. If there is no religious code for tribals, then the population of tribal people will be reduced. Tribal worshiping nature is not being given due recognition today. In a democratic country, everything is decided by the population. On the basis of this, there is participation in jobs, reservation, budget etc. Tribals do not feel honored with a separate religion code for them,” Kcchap said.
The Mahadharna was also addressed by Zilla Parishad President Nirmala Bhagat, former MP Salkhan Murmu, Khijri MLA Rajesh Kachhap, Madhya Pradesh MLA Hiralal Alva, Manilal Karranta, Anil Kumar Bhagat and Sanjay Pahan.
Other prominent speakers remained Sangam Oraon, Birsa Kandil, Rajesh Bhagat, Bhagwan Das Munda, Narayan Oraon, Ravi Oraon, Durga Odia Mathura Kandil, Prabhat Oraon, Raimani Oraon, Kamle Oraon, Renu Oraon and Bargai Odia besides others.
