Cong Stages Protest Over Sarna Code

Congress party workers, led by Jharkhand unit president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, state in-charge K. Raju, and other senior leaders, staged a dharna (sit-in protest) near Raj Bhawan on Monday to demand the inclusion of the Sarna religion code in the census form to ensure a separate religious identity for tribal people.

- Raj Kumar

RANCHI:

Addressing the programme, the party workers resolved to ensure the inclusion of the column in the same way "they compelled the Narendra Modi-led Union government to start a caste census and repeal the farm laws". "Just as we got the three black agricultural laws repealed and the caste census passed by the Cabinet, in the same way, we will get the Sarna Dharma Code included in the seventh column. We will not let the identity of the tribals be lost," said the party's Jharkhand in-charge K Raju.

Raju said his party would go to any extent to protect the rights of tribals. "Sarna religion code is the fundamental right of the tribals. It is the responsibility of the Congress party to protect it. Congress is continuously demanding this; now we have taken to the streets, and very soon a dharna will be organised at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, following which the President will be approached and requested to implement it," he said.

State Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh echoed the same, saying he would not allow the Union government to violate the rights of the tribes. He said the Union government's slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' is merely a slogan, as it does not want to develop tribal, Dalit, and minority communities.