A massive Hunkar rally will be held on October 17th to protest the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category

Jharkhand/Ranchi: A massive Hunkar rally will be held on October 17th at Prabhat Tara Maidan, Dhurwa, to protest the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. This announcement was made at a meeting of various religious and cultural organizations, including the Adivasi Bachao Morcha, in Ranchi on Friday.

Reporting to reporters after the meeting, Adivasi Jan Parishad Central President Prem Shahi Munda stated that the demand for ST status by the Kudmi-Kurmi community is entirely motivated by the intention to usurp the original tribal communities' constitutional rights, political representation, reservations, land, and their glorious history of struggle. This demand is a major conspiracy to marginalize the tribal community. He stated that the tribal community will not tolerate the infiltration of any other castes into the Scheduled Tribe category.

On the occasion, Geeta Shree Oraon, President of the All India Tribal Development Council, stated that preparations for the Adivasi Hunkar Maha Rally will be made by establishing contact with tribal community organizations across the state. Meetings, public relations, and public meetings will be held in all tribal areas of the state.

Dev Kumar Dhan of the Adivasi Mahasabha stated that a preparatory committee will be formed for this mega rally, comprising all tribal organizations and social workers. He stated that on behalf of all tribal community organizations, a delegation will meet with President Draupadi Murmu to present their concerns regarding the unreasonable demand for ST status by the Kurmi-Kurmi caste.

He stated that we appeal to all tribal community members, organizations, students, and youth to oppose the demand and movement for ST status by the Kurmi-Kurmi caste, based on historical facts, criteria, anthropologists' research reports, archaeologists' findings, population genetics, and DNA.

On the occasion, Laxmi Narayan Munda, Central President of Bedia Vikas Parishad Shankar Bedia, President of Central 17 Sarna Committee Narayan Oraon, President of Central Sarna Committee Bablu Munda, Ravi Munda, Champa Oraon of Raji Padaha Prayer Assembly, President of Kharwar Bhokta Samaj Darshan Ganjhu, Central President of Bhumij Munda Samaj Vishwanath Singh Sardar and others were present.