Ranchi
A week after holding a big rally demanding the Parasnath Hills be also declared a tribal pilgrimage centre just as was done for the Jain community, tribal organizations have upped the ante further on the issue.
Keeping up the pressure on the Central and State governments, the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA), which has been spearheading a movement for a separate Sarna religion code, announced its activists, headed by its president Salkhan Murmu, will stage demonstrations in tribal-dominated 50 districts in Assam, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
“The Marang Buru Bachao Yatra, starting January 17, will cover all tribal-dominated districts of the country before ending in the last week of February,” the ASA president said.
Accusing the Jharkhand government of handing over ‘Marang Buru’ to the Jain community, the former MP said the government has betrayed the tribals. The ASA will organise a ‘Marang Buru-Sarna Mahadharna’ besides ‘Rashtriya Adivasi Ekta Mahasabha’ in Ranchi on February 14.
Claiming ownership of the mountain range, hundreds of tribals had on January 10 taken out a Jan Akrosh Rally demanding that the Parasnath Hills be made a pilgrimage centre for its community too just like that done for the Jains and a revocation of the blanket ban on certain activities like animal sacrifice which are part of their customs and religious practices.
Jains across the country had protested demanding the scrapping of a 2019 Jharkhand government notification designating Parasnath Hills as a tourist place. They said they fearing this would lead to an influx of tourists who may consume non-vegetarian food and liquor at their holy site.
Following the Jain community’s protests, the Union Environment Ministry stayed all tourism activities on the Hills and directed the Jharkhand Government to strictly enforce the existing ban on sale of liquor, intoxicants and non-vegetarian food in the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary area.
But tribals argue that worshipping the mountain range, hunting animals in the forests around and offering sacrifices to the deity are their traditional ritual since ages and restrictions are being imposed on those from their community living even in villages 10 kilometres away.
On January 14, the ASA president wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu appealing to her to restore the sanctity of the place and hand over Parasnath hills to the tribals.
Nature worshippers Santhals consider Parasnath Hills as their Mountain God. The tribe has a sizeable population in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal.
The Hills are for Santhal tribals what the Ayodhya Ram Temple is for Hindus, the Vatican is for Christians and Mecca Madina is for Muslims, Murmu earlier told The Indian Tribal.
Another tribal outfit, Jharkhand Bachao Morcha, had led last week’s protests. Its chief Lobin Hembrom said they will also observe day-long fast at Birsa Munda’s birth place Ulihatu in Khunti district on January 30 if their demands are not met by January 25.
Another protest at Boghnadih (Sahebganj) will be held in February, he said adding long-term peaceful protest campaigns across the State and country too are being worked out.
