Latest news with #Sarna
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Detained in Ranchi while paying tribute to Birsa Munda, Adivasi activists allege ‘forced silence, erasure of sacred spaces'
All India Adivasi Mahasabha president Geetashree Oraon, the daughter of the late Congress leader Kartik Oraon, and other activists were detained by police on Monday while paying tribute to freedom fighter Birsa Munda in Ranchi on the occasion of Birsa Munda Shahadat Diwas. The detentions took place at the historic Bhagwan Birsa Munda Shahadat Sthal, located near the old Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi, where the tribal icon is believed to have died in British custody on June 9, 1900. According to Oraon, the police and administrative officials arrived at the site ahead of the scheduled visit of the Jharkhand Governor and asked them to vacate the area, citing security concerns. 'We were peacefully paying tribute to our icon with our traditional customs and in the presence of our Pahan, the tribal priest. But the ADM told us we don't have the right to pay homage to Birsa Munda here,' Oraon told The Indian Express. 'There were people from various parties sitting nearby like JMM, BJP, yet only we Adivasis were detained and taken to Namkum police station.' Oraon said the tribute ceremony was being conducted under Adivasi customs. 'We were not protesting. We were observing a sacred day, and we were doing so as per our faith,' she said. Adivasi groups have expressed outrage over the detentions, calling them disrespectful and symbolic of the state's growing insensitivity to tribal rights and identity, even under a government led by a tribal Chief Minister. This also comes amid growing discontent among tribal communities in Jharkhand, particularly in and around Ranchi. In recent days, Adivasi organisations have raised objections to the inauguration of the Siramtoli Flyover, which reportedly encroaches upon a Sarna religious site — sacred to tribal communities. The flyover's ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 5. 'We're witnessing a pattern — cultural disregard, forced silence, and erasure of sacred spaces,' Oraon said. 'Even in an Adivasi-ruled state, Adivasis are being pushed to the margins.' When contacted, ADM (Law and Order) Raj Shekhar Alok said the detentions were made to ensure smooth movement and security arrangements for the Governor's official visit, adding that no permission had been granted for any gathering at the site during that time. 'There was a scheduled programme at the Shahadat Sthal involving the Governor and the Chief Minister. The Adivasi group was asked to either finish their tribute before the VVIPs' arrival or wait until the programme concluded. However, they refused to cooperate, saying more of their people were yet to arrive. Since they did not vacate the space despite repeated requests, they were removed and taken to the police station,' he said. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
J'khand bandh disrupts city life, biz incur losses
Ranchi: A statewide Jharkhand Bandh called by several tribal organisations brought parts of Ranchi to a standstill on Wednesday, with the epicentre of protest being the controversial ramp of the Siramtoli flyover. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Protesters alleged that the ramp has encroached upon a Sarna religious site and demanded its immediate removal, citing it as an attack on indigenous identity and sacred traditions. Hundreds of protestors, led by outfits such as the Adivasi Bachao Morcha, marched from Line Tank Road to Albert Ekka Chowk and called on the shopkeepers to down their shutters. The 12-hour bandh, which began at 6 am, disrupted traffic in Lalpur, Dibdih, and Kutchery Chowk, while roadblocks and demonstrations occurred at Piska More and Jail More. In Kanke, effigies were burnt as a symbolic protest. In Boreya, tyres were set ablaze to block roads. Police personnel baton-charged on demonstrators to disperse them from Hinoo Chowk in a bid to clear the road. The demonstrators at least four people were hurt in the lathi charge. Ranchi's business community also bore the brunt of the statewide bandh with Paresh Gattani, president of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, estimating that losses ran to the tune of Rs 100 crore. "We have been raising this issue for months now. This government has failed the Adivasis. Our places of worship are being bulldozed in the name of development. We demand the ramp's removal immediately," said Bablu Munda, president of Kendriya Sarna Samiti. Ranchi sub-divisional officer Utkarsh Kumar said, "Emergency services were fully functional. At Hinoo Chowk, the protesters were being removed only to allow the smooth passage of passengers. There was minimal use of force to ensure mobility,"
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
2 tribal groups call state bandh today over Siramtoli flyover ramp
Ranchi: Two major tribal groups — Adivasi Bachao Morcha and Siramtoli Kendriya Sarna Sthal Bachao Morcha — have called for a statewide bandh on Wednesday in protest against the construction of a flyover ramp at Siramtoli, which, according to tribal groups, threatens a sacred Sarna religious site. The bandh is expected to see widespread support from various indigenous and regional groups across the state. The bandh has also received moral support from the political party, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JDKM). The party's vice-president, Devendra Nath Mahato, announced that a 'Khatiyani Mahadharna' will be held at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday to support the protest. "We support the bandh and demand chief minister Hemant Soren honour his commitment to tribal rights," Mahato said. Speaking about the bandh call, Kendriya Sarna Samiti president Bablu Munda said, "The govt is encroaching on our sacred land in the name of development. The Siramtoli Sarna Sthal is not just a place, but our identity." Other protesters alleged that the construction violates the constitutional protections of tribal land and spiritual heritage under the PESA Act and other legal safeguards. The bandh would highlight broader concerns, including the functioning of the Tribes Advisory Council, misuse of land bank policies, neglect of tribal language and culture and alleged encroachments on tribal areas, they claimed. Premshahi Munda, the convenor of Adivasi Bachao Morcha, added, "We are not only opposing the ramp at Siramtoli but also against the larger pattern of forced land acquisition and continued erosion of tribal rights across Jharkhand — from Parasnath to Pithoria." Meanwhile, authorities have announced measures to prevent any disruption of essential services. "Police forces will be deployed across sensitive areas. We will also ensure that emergency services, including hospitals, ambulances and medicine shops are not obstructed," Ranchi SDM Utkarsh Kumar said.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Hemant Soren government should take steps to stop conversion if they are concerned about tribals: LoP Marandi
RANCHI: Amid the ongoing protest by the JMM and Congress demanding a Sarna Religion Code, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi said that if these parties are truly concerned, they should take concrete steps to stop the conversion of tribals to Christianity. According to Marandi, if all tribals who believe in Marang Buru or worship nature are converted to Christianity, then who will write 'Sarna' in the separate column of the census form. Notably, tribal leaders across Jharkhand have been demanding the implementation of a Sarna Code in census surveys to identify tribals as followers of the Sarna faith. Marandi said religious conversion has become a major challenge in Jharkhand, which is why the previous Raghuvar Das-led BJP government had brought in a bill to curb it. Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Ranchi, Marandi cited the 2011 caste census, claiming that 15.48% of the tribal population in Jharkhand had converted to Christianity. He added that nearly 26% of Oraon, around 33% of Munda, over 67% of Kharia, more than 2% of Ho, and about 1% of Santhal populations had adopted Christianity. 'Why doesn't the government explain how lakhs of tribals who traditionally followed the Sarna religion have now been converted to Christianity?' he asked. Marandi said that in 2011, Jharkhand's total population was 3.29 crore, of which 86.45 lakh (26.2%) were tribals. 'Out of these, nearly 14 lakh (around 15%) identified themselves as Christians. The question is, how did so many tribals shift from their original Sarna faith to Christianity, and why is this trend continuing?" he said. He added that the upcoming caste census would reveal the actual figures of tribal conversion, and warned, 'When all tribals will become Christians, then where will Sarna survive?'
The Print
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Cong stages dharna in Ranchi demanding recognition of Sarna religious code
The Congress, a part of the JMM-led ruling coalition in the eastern state, also submitted a memorandum to Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar, urging him to initiate steps in this regard. Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and in-charge K Raju were among those who took part in the demonstration to push for the inclusion of the code, practiced by the tribals, in the upcoming Census. Ranchi, May 26 (PTI) The Congress in Jharkhand on Monday staged a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan here, seeking recognition of the Sarna religious code. 'The Centre must include the Sarna religious code in the upcoming Census. This has been a long-pending demand of the tribals,' Kamlesh said. Congress leader and state Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey said the tribal society is free to follow and adopt its religion. 'It is our fundamental right. The tribal society believes in equality. The Sarna religious code must be included in the seventh column of the Census,' Tirkey said. 'The Sarna code is tied to the faith, traditions and religious identity of tribals. Its recognition has been a long-standing demand, but the BJP has remained silent on the issue,' Lohardaga MP Sukhdev Bhagat said. PTI SAN RBT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
