The Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA) has threatened to launch an agitation across five states if the Center does not heed its request for the creation of a separate religious category, Sarna, by November 20.
Salkhan Murmu, president of the ASA, stated that the indigenous people worship the natural world and are neither Hindus, Muslims, or Christians.
Despite the Centre’s failure to give reasons for denying recognition to Sarna code by November 20, tribals in 250 blocks of 50 districts in Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, and West Bengal will be forced to resort to “chakka jam” from November 30.
It has been a long-standing demand of the tribals for a Sarna code, but their demands have gone unmet,” Murmu told the news agency PTI.
According to Murmu, the number of tribals in the country is greater than that of Buddhists, however their religion is not recognized.
