Tribal organisation rallies against amendment in Land Act, conversion law

A tribal organisation held a rally in Ranchi on Monday against the Jharkhand government's Anti-Conversion Bill and its proposed amendments in the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.

The Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA) organised the rally at Morabadi ground of Ranchi.

"The government's policies are anti-tribal. The state government is working against the sentiments of indigenous and tribal people. There is need to fight against the wrong policies of the state government," Salkhan Murmu, president of AASA, said at the rally.

He said "The Anti-conversion Law and Amendment in the 2013 Land Acquisition Bill by the state is a cruel joke. We oppose both actions of the state government."

The BJP-led Jharkhand government has passed the Religious Independence Bill 2017. If a person is found guilty of converting a person then he will be liable to three years imprisonment.

The state government has passed from the assembly to amend the 2013 Land Acquisition Act so that land can be acquired for industrial and other purposes.

Tribal people numbering around 10,000 participated in the rally.

--IANS

ns/rn