Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: Thousands of members of various tribal communities held a massive protest rally in Jamshedpur on Thursday, opposing the demand for the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
Carrying traditional weapons, tribal men and women marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they staged a strong demonstration and issued a clear warning to the government that any compromise on tribal culture, identity and rights would not be tolerated.
Tribal leaders described the demand for the Kurmi community’s inclusion as a conspiracy and a direct attack on the rights of the tribal population.
They clarified that while they held no personal animosity toward the Kurmis, the two communities were distinct in language, culture, lifestyle and worship practices.
They emphasized that tribal traditions were deeply rooted in nature worship, with strong ties with forests, trees and stones and any attempt to alter this identity would face strong resistance.
The leaders also accused the Central Government of using the Kurmi community as a political tool.
Representatives from 33 tribal communities—including the Oraon, Ho, Bhumij, Santal, Munda, Birhor, Sabar, Bedia, Gond, and Khadia along with organizations such as the Traditional Self-Governance System, Manki Munda Sangh, and Majhi Pargana Mahal, participated in the rally.
A memorandum was submitted to the President, Prime Minister, Governor, Chief Minister and the Government of India through the Deputy Commissioner, demanding that no bill seeking to include Kurmis in the ST category be introduced in the Jharkhand Assembly or Lok Sabha.
The protesters reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the identity and existence of nature-loving tribal communities.
Traffic snarls as tribal protest brings city to standstill
Jamshedpur, Oct 9: A large-scale tribal protest on Thursday against the inclusion of the Kurmi community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list brought traffic in Jamshedpur to a halt for several hours. The rally, which began in the morning, led to severe congestion by noon, with long queues of vehicles stretching from Mango to Sakchi.
The situation was particularly chaotic in the Mango area between 12 noon and 1:30 pm, coinciding with school closing hours. Many parents faced hardship while collecting their children. Mohan Kumar, a resident of Dimna, said he was stuck near the Mango bus stand roundabout for nearly an hour.
Commuters and parents criticized the administration’s failure to manage traffic despite prior knowledge of the protest. Major intersections such as the Sakchi roundabout and the old MGM Hospital square were also severely affected.
As the situation worsened, the administration temporarily closed the route from Mango Bus Stand to the DC office to control the chaos. Normal traffic flow resumed gradually in the afternoon after the protest dispersed.
