Ranchi: Several Adivasi community members under the banner of Compat Munda 22 Padha Kendra Pakra on Sunday staged a demonstration to demand implementation of self-rule in the state's Scheduled areas.
Leaders of the community garlanded a statue of Birsa Munda and later held a meeting at the Birsa Chowk here to pursue their demands. They had initially planned to take out a procession but withdrew it after the district administration officials reminded them that processions were banned under the new Covid-19 control laws along with the implementation of Section 144 of CrPC.
Speaking on their demands, Luthar Topno, a protester, claimed that Adivasis have the right to self-rule and they are the owners of natural resources in a Scheduled area. He mentioned that the laws promulgated by the Centre and the state are applicable in the Scheduled area with certain exceptions, which must be followed.
He also claimed that under the existing norms in the Constitution, police have no right to enforce their norms in areas under self-rule.
Topno further said in 2007, President Late APJ Abdul Kalam had written a letter to the governors of states stating that governance in Scheduled areas would run according to the existing traditions of the Adivasis. The order has not been implemented even after several years, he said, adding that Governor Droupadi Murmu had on February 23, 2021, assured that she would call a meeting of leaders of various Adivasi communities within a month for the formulation of a policy on Adivasi rights but no step has been taken so far.
Other speakers said it is only the Adivasis who have the executive, legislative and judicial power in the Scheduled areas.