Jharkhand drive against Centre’s ‘rights violations

As many as 10 tribal social organisations have decided to jointly launch a campaign called “Ek Soch” (a thought) in creating awareness at panchayat level about the BJP-led Union government’s alleged violation of the rights of tribals, Dalits and minorities in the state and the country and the blatant misuse of laws to harass rights activists.

At a meeting held on Sunday evening at Bihar Club in Ranchi, over 50 representatives unanimously decided that the arrest of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, 83, by the National Investigation Agency on fabricated charges, denial of bail and delay in grant of permission to use a straw and sipper cup for drinking to a person suffering from Parkinson’s disease has exposed the Centre’s desperation against those who raise voices for tribal, minorities and Dalits. They said people at village level need to be made aware about the government’s agenda.

“With the turn of events in the country especially the arrest of Father Stan Swamy, who has always been vocal for tribal rights, we felt that it is high time that all like-minded organisations join hands to launch a joint campaign and make people aware about the real intent of the current central government. The people, be it tribals, minorities or Dalits, need to be made aware of their rights enshrined in the Constitution and also how the government is misusing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to target rights activists. We will be reaching to almost every panchayat in Jharkhand and inform the people,” said tribal women rights defender and senior functionary of the Adivasi Adhikar Manch, Aloka Kujur.

Former tribal advisory council (TAC) member Ratan Tirkey, who was appointed secretary of the Ek Soch campaign, told The Telegraph that reaching out to the masses was the need of the hour.

“Merely holding dharnas, forming human chains and holding agitation would not serve the purpose. The people who stand to be affected by the central government’s agenda need to be informed about it. The Ek Soch campaign hopefully will do that in Jharkhand,” said Tirkey.