Guwahati, Feb 6: The Assam Christian Forum has expressed concern over the demand raised by the Janajati Dharma-Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (Assam Pradesh) to revoke the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status of tribals who have converted to other religions.
“We believe that ST status has nothing to do with any religion. Such a status is based on ethnicity according to the Constitution. For instance, a Khasi, Naga or Bodo, whether being a Christian or not, will anyway follow their traditional customs, be it costume, attire, et al,” Allen Brooks, spokesperson for the forum, told The Shillong Times here on Monday.
“Regarding religious conversion allegations, the Manch has referred to the Bodos here. However, it is to be noted that the Bodos traditionally practice Bathouism. However, Bodos have also been converted to Hinduism apart from Christianity and Islam. We believe that it was done by their free will under the provisions enshrined in the Constitution,” Brooks said, while terming such a move as ‘selective’ and ‘divisive’.
“As such mentioning only two religions (Christianity and Islam) is viewed as an effort by groups with vested interests to create confusion, division and disharmony among the Bodo people, especially when the Bodo Accord is in the process of being implemented,” he said.
On the other hand, the Janajati Dharma-Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (Assam Pradesh), which claims to be a “non-political social organisation”, has decided to stage a demonstration, christened “Challo Dispur”, at Janata Bhawan here on February 12, 2023, demanding amendment of Article 342A of the Constitution of India.
“Tribal people, who have been converted to “foreign religions” such as like Christianity and Islam, are getting double benefits, both as ST and as a minority. We believe that this (benefits of job reservation as an ST and that as a minority) is unconstitutional, and hence, need to be revoked,” Binoy Brahma, spokesperson for the Janajati Dharma-Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (Assam Pradesh) told The Shillong Times.
“Besides, the identity and existence of tribals, following traditional customs and rituals will be at stake, much like in some other states of the country where a majority of the population has been converted,” Brahma claimed.
Notably, the agitation by the Manch has been scheduled just a couple of weeks before two Christian-majority states, Meghalaya and Nagaland, go to the hustings on February 27.
Reportedly, the Manch has already organised various rallies in tribal-dominated districts and reached out to a cross-section of tribal leaders, including ministers, MPs, MLAs and CEMs of autonomous councils to garner support.
In March 2023, the Manch plans to stage a rally in front of the Parliament in New Delhi in support of its demand.
In November last year, Northeastern Christian leaders, representing all the Churches of the region, had assembled here and expressed concern about “the painful developments triggered by the alarmist news being spread in society of late in connection with the issue of religious conversions”.
“The alarmist news that is being spread among people in connection with the issue of ‘conversions’ is nothing but an effort to malign our community, which has rendered yeoman service in the field of education, health and social development to all sections in society irrespective of caste, creed or ethnicity,” Brooks, who is also the spokesperson for the United Christian Forum of North East India (UCFNEI) said.
“We have been the first to denounce any sort of “forced” conversion. At the same time, we also affirm the right of every citizen to choose any religion of his/her own choice that the Constitution (Article 25-28) guarantees. We consider it very wrong to make false allegations of ‘conversion’ by force, fraud or inducement with the intention of humiliating our community,” Brooks said.
“We feel that such accusations are made with the deliberate intention of dividing our society,” he said.