Ranchi, April 1: Over 300 tribals launched a satyagraha march today from the Simdega town hall to protest against local residents' policy and the amendments to the tenancy laws under the aegis of the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA), the march to culminate at a public rally in Ranchi on April 7.
The protesters are scheduled to go through several remote areas dominated by tribals before reaching Ranchi, the idea being to raise public awareness against what they feel would be the adverse fallout of changes in the CNT and SPT acts.
Representatives of various tribal organisations from all over the country are expected to participate in the April 7 rally in Ranchi.
" Sarkar girao, Jharkhand bachao (Topple the government, save Jharkhand)" is our slogan. All 28 MLAs, who won Assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes are the real traitors. Had they put in their papers when the Raghubar Das government was adamant, the amendment bills would never have been passed by the tribal advisory council and the Assembly," argued ASA president Salkhan Murmu.
Earlier on March 9, Murmu had organised an impressive public rally in Simdega, attended, among others, by several bishops and church heads. Thereafter, he organised several such public meetings across the state.
Finally, today, he launched the satyagraha march that will end in a protest rally in Ranchi.
"Roman Catholic Church bishop Vincent Barwa, GEL Church bishop Bilung and representatives of bishops of two more churches were present today when the march began in Simdega. On March 12, 1930, when Gandhi began his salt satyagraha march, he was accompanied by only 78 people. But today, we have over 300 people with us in our fight to save water, forests and land ( jal, jungle aur zameen)," said Murmu, a former BJP MP from Mayurbhanj in Odisha.
He said the protesters would be covering over 150km on foot braving the high temperatures and near heat wave conditions. "Their selfless service would be a source of inspiration for all poor tribals who are set to be uprooted from their homes," he said.
Simdega SP Rajeev Ranjan Singh maintained the protest march began peacefully in the morning and that police were keeping a watch.
