Aadivasi Jan Parishad flays BJP for ‘using tribals as vote bank’

Ranchi: Aadivasi Jan Parishad, a nationwide socio-political organisation of the tribal community, has criticised the BJP for not including the issue of “separate Sarna code’ in their discussions and resolution at the central working committee meeting of the tribal wing, that concluded here on Sunday.
President, central unit of the Parishad, Prem Shahi Munda, lambasted the saffron party for ignoring the demand of the tribal community for asking to be identified separately as a distinct community. “Tribal identity can be preserved only when they are recognized distinctly in the national decadal census. We have been demanding inclusion of a separate code for the tribals in the census register and this would be possible only when the BJP government at the Centre agrees to do so,” he said, adding that the ST wing of the saffron party should have been responsive to the sentiments of the tribal community.
Apart from Munda, principal general secretary Abhay Bhut Kunwar said the BJP government, when in power, had made efforts to amend the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and pave way for acquisition of tribal land. “On one hand they speak of being concerned about tribal welfare and identity and on the other when it comes to taking action on paper they try to cheat the community,” he said.
The Parishad cautioned the BJP against treating tribals as a vote bank and mute spectators.