Ranchi: In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court, led by Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, has directed both the Central and state governments to provide an immediate response regarding the alleged conversion of tribals in Jharkhand. This order came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Friday, August 30.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 5, urging the governments to address the issue. The petitioner’s counsel reported concerns that members of the tribal community in Jharkhand are being misled into conversion, citing organized gatherings such as Changai Sabha, which are believed to be promoting religious conversion. The bench expressed disappointment over the lack of action from both the Centre and the state government, noting that conversion activities are allegedly being facilitated by infiltrators. The court also acknowledged a similar petition by Daniel Danish, which also highlighted the issue of tribal conversion. Both PILs will now be combined and considered together in the upcoming hearing.
The issue of tribal conversion in Jharkhand, as well as neighboring states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha, has been a recurring topic. A recent media investigation linked to Project Joshua has claimed that there is a systematic effort to convert tribals in central India. The investigation noted that some villages in Gumla district have reportedly become Christian-majority, with wooden crosses marking their entrances.
Additionally, the tribal communities in Jharkhand are facing challenges beyond conversion. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about illegal infiltration, particularly in the Santhal region, which borders West Bengal and Bangladesh. They argue that this infiltration has led to the conversion of tribal girls and encroachment on tribal land. The state government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has denied these claims, prompting criticism from opposition leaders, including BJP members.
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