Bokaro, April 18: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren has called for sweeping reforms to India’s reservation system, urging that tribals who have converted to other religions and women who have married outside the tribal community be excluded from accessing reservation benefits.
Addressing a large gathering at the Sarhul/Baha Milan Samaroh at Balidih Jahergarh in Bokaro on Thursday, Soren warned that the very survival of tribal society was at stake if corrective steps were not taken. “If delisting is not started soon, the tribal society will cease to exist,” he told the assembled crowd, calling on the tribal community to protect its identity and cultural legacy.
Soren expressed strong concerns over religious conversions among tribals and what he described as growing land encroachments by non-tribal elements. He claimed that converted individuals were continuing to occupy reserved seats, diluting the purpose of affirmative action intended to uplift marginalized tribal populations. He also alleged that Bangladeshi infiltrators were seizing tribal lands and marrying tribal women to gain access to reservations and contest local elections. “These outsiders are marrying our daughters and even contesting municipal elections, encroaching on reservation benefits meant for tribals,” he said.
Citing historical precedence, Soren referred to a 1967 bill introduced in Parliament by tribal leader Kartik Oraon, which aimed to delist converted tribals from reservation benefits. While the bill had initially received support from a parliamentary committee, it was ultimately shelved by the then Congress government. Soren blamed the Congress for the ongoing struggles faced by tribal communities. “The Congress not only removed the tribal religion code in 1961 but also brutally suppressed tribal protests. The present difficulties faced by the tribal community are directly due to these actions,” he said.
Invoking the spirit of “Ulgulan,” or tribal rebellion, Soren urged tribal youth to draw inspiration from freedom fighters such as Baba Tilka Manjhi, Veer Sido-Kanhu, Poto Ho, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and Tana Bhagat. He called on them to unite in defense of tribal identity, rights, and traditions, drawing parallels between past struggles against colonial rule and the current fight for cultural and political recognition.
Soren also pointed to recent signs of what he termed a cultural resurgence, noting that dozens of converted individuals in Kolhan had returned to the tribal fold, with hundreds more reportedly expressing interest in doing the same. Looking ahead, he announced plans for a mass mobilisation event involving 10 lakh tribals in Santhal Pargana. The gathering, he said, would provide a platform for the community to voice their demands for stronger protections and recognition before the central government.
The event was attended by local Jahergarh committee members, BJP workers, and thousands of tribals, many of whom applauded Soren’s address and echoed his calls for action. Chants in support of tribal unity and rights rang through the crowd as Soren concluded his speech.
As the tribal community intensifies its campaign for reform, the government’s response remains to be seen. The proposed gathering in Santhal Pargana is expected to be a pivotal moment for tribal leadership and could significantly influence the national discourse on tribal rights and reservation policy.
