Overview

• JMM and Congress staged demonstrations at district collectorates across Jharkhand on May 27 to press for a standalone Sarna religious code in the 2025 census
• JMM central general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey warned that the enumeration exercise would be stalled unless Sarna followers receive a distinct census column
• BJP leader Babulal Marandi challenged the parties to explain concrete steps taken to curb tribal conversions and accused them of deceiving the community
• Marandi cited 2011 Census figures showing nearly 15% of Jharkhand’s tribal population identified as Christian, raising concerns over declining adherence to the Sarna faith
• The push follows a 2020 state assembly resolution and highlights continuing tensions after the code’s removal under a previous Congress-led central government