Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat
In a show of growing assertion ahead of the upcoming elections, members of the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan staged a demonstration on Monday demanding the implementation of a separate Sarna religion code for tribal communities.
More than three hundred protesters gathered and marched through Balurghat town, raising slogans such as “Implement Sarna Religion Code, Take Adivasi Votes.” The procession, marked by the presence of men and women carrying traditional bows and arrows, culminated in a protest outside the District Magistrate’s office.
A delegation of the protesters later submitted a memorandum outlining eight key demands at the district administrative building. The memorandum was also forwarded to the President of India through the District Magistrate, officials said.Security was heightened during the protest, with a large police force deployed under the supervision of Sumanta Biswas, Inspector-in-Charge of Balurghat Police Station, to prevent any untoward incidents.
Parimal Mardi, district president of the organization, said that the Sarna faith, practiced by many Adivasis who worship nature, has not been granted a distinct category in the national census. “We demand official recognition and a separate code for Sarna religion in the upcoming census,” he said.
The organization indicated that it would intensify its movement in the run-up to the elections, making the demand a central issue. Its message to political stakeholders was unequivocal: “Give us the Sarna code, and you will get our votes.”
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