Tribal priests sprinkled water and rice, and performed puja at Morabadi grounds in Ranchi on Thursday to invoke God for the success of Adivasi Aakrosh Maharally scheduled for Saturday against the government's bid to amend tenancy laws.

Karma Oraon, convener of Jharkhand Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha, said lakhs of tribals from across the state would assemble in the capital to fight for their rights.

The morcha, an umbrella outfit of 40 tribal groups, has been formed to lead tribal agitations to oppose changes in the CNT and SPT Acts as proposed by the government through two Ordinances.

"The BJP-led government is playing into the hands of large industrial houses. If approved, the twin Ordinances - now awaiting Presidential assent - would displace lakhs of tribals from their ancestral land," Oraon said at Morabadi grounds after the puja.

He alleged that the government had clamped a virtual emergency in the state to foil the proposed tribal rally.

"All police stations across the state have been put on alert. Buses, trucks and even private cars are being searched to prevent tribals from entering Ranchi. All these will not deter tribals, who are determined to protect their ancestral land. The rally would be completely peaceful," he stressed.

Lakhs of tribals were displaced after their land was acquired to facilitate setting up of HEC (Ranchi) in 1958 and Bokaro Steel in 1964. Similarly, several lakh tribals perished due to mining, irrigation and housing projects, among others.

Former MLA Bandhu Oraon said a core group of 500 volunteers had been formed to ensure that the rally remained peaceful. "We are putting up 42 welcome gates, each named after one tribal revolutionary, across the city," he added.