No reservation for converted tribals: Tribal body

RANCHI: An organisation representing tribals in Jharkhand on Sunday demanded that reservation facility should be withdrawn from those tribals who have converted to another religion.

They also demanded change in population counting so that the converted tribals are no longer counted under the category of tribals.

"There is strong need to introduce Sarana (as tribals are known in Jharkhand) code so that tribals could be separated from converted ones," Moti Kashap, member of Adivasi Jan Parisad (AJP), a tribal body, said on Sunday.

He said: "There is also a strong need to end reservation facilities to converted tribals. Both measures are required to protect the tribal culture and identity in the state."

AJP members will go to New Delhi to attend a meeting regarding population counting on Sarana code. Tribal leaders allege that in Jharkhand, reservation facilities were being enjoyed by the converted tribals and Saranas are deprived of their rights.

They also demanded a nation-wide ban on translated version of the Bible.

Bible Society of India had come out with a translated version of the Bible in Kuduk language. The translated Bible reportedly says that the places where Sarana's worship should be destroyed.

The issue rocked the state assembly and the state government announced that the book would be recalled.