New Delhi: Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday emphatically rejected suggestions that tribal traditions were distinct from Hindu practices, a point made by ideological rivals of BJP and RSS, and made it clear that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will impose no curbs on the way of life of tribal communities.Addressing ‘Janjati Sanskritik Samagam’, which saw mobilisation of tribals from different parts of the country by organisations linked to RSS, at Red Fort ground here, Shah denounced conversion through enticement or force, even as speakers before him spoke out against tribals who have converted to other faiths.The growing strength of BJP and deepening presence of RSS affiliates among tribals have increasingly widened the faultline between tribals who have converted, mostly to Christianity, and those who practise their traditional faith.Shah, however, did not wade into the issue at the rally held to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, choosing to highlight forcefully tribals’ link with Hinduism.“Tribals live with numerous faiths and worship Nature. This worship of Nature links us with Sanatan Dharma. You all have to leave from here with the resolve to protect our religion,” he said, describing the large gathering as a ‘maha kumbh’ of tribals and likening it to Birsa Munda’s ‘Ulgulan’ movement.He said, “Your movement, your effort, is the Ulgulan of this time. This movement will not only protect us but also keep us connected to our land, our culture and our religion…” He added, “We were talking about the PESA Act. I just want to say that for the PESA Act, govt has created a PESA cell and has trained more than one lakh master trainers…”“A new conspiracy has now been hatched, claiming that UCC will deprive tribals of their cultural and traditional rights. I, as home minister of Modi govt, want to make it clear from this dais that UCC will put no curbs on tribal society,” Shah said. “We have implemented UCC in two states where Bharatiya Janata Party is in power, Gujarat and Uttarakhand. By making special provisions, the Modi govt has ensured that all tribal communities are kept outside the scope of the UCC...”He further said, “Those who want to create divisions among us do not realise that thousands of years ago, in the Treta Yuga, Lord Ram clearly taught us by accepting Shabari’s tasted berries that we are all one…”The rally was the culmination of a country-wide mobilisation of tribals to help them assert their identity and frame it as part of India’s traditional, cultural and civilisational heritage, countering the idea that they are different from Hindus and should be recognised as such, a point made by Jharkhand CM Hemant Sorent, among others.
