Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's remark that tribal people don't follow Hinduism has kicked in a row. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief on Saturday said that “Adivasis were never Hindus and they never will be''. The tribal community worship nature the CM said, adding this is the reason why they are called “indigenous people”.
Soren’s remarks come as a response to a question on whether tribals are Hindus after delivering a lecture via video conference at the 18th Annual India Conference at Harvard University Saturday night.
The Jharkhand CM said that the state has 32 tribal communities but in Jharkhand, they have not been able to promote their culture and language.
JMM has asked the Central government for a separate column for the Adivasis in the next census so that they can continue their tradition and culture and safeguard them. “Where will the Adivasis go, whether he will write Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Muslim, Christian [in the census]… I came to know that these people [central government] have removed the ‘Others’ column. It seems they have to adjust in this only,” the Chief Minister said.
The state government is focusing on providing jobs to the people by the end of this year, but the Centre seems not interested in talking about jobs creation. “And why should it be. If the central government gives them jobs, and everyone will remain busy, who will pick the flag of the BJP,” he added. Targeting the government he said the BJP government in Jharkhand is using the law for its political interest and anyone who speaks the truth is termed as a conspirator by the Modi government.
Tourism is the new step for growth, Soren said, “The forests which Adivasi revere as god, others see those forests areas like mines and minerals.”
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities have been ignored in the country. Mentality towards the Adivasis has not been changed, even it was not easy for me to reach the Chief Minister’s post, Soren said.
“Despite safeguards in the Constitution, Adivasis do not get their due, they have been pushed down since ages, today also it is the same mentality. They are looked down upon, this is a matter of concern,” he said.
As per the 2011 Census, India has about 3.24 crore, tribal people. Jharkhand's 26 per cent population comprises tribals.