Ranchi: The demand for a separate Sarna religion code has once again gained momentum in Jharkhand. Following the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a Congress minister from the ruling alliance, Shilpi Neha Tirkey, has strongly voiced support for the issue. On Sunday, during a social and religious program in the Mandar Assembly constituency, Tirkey made it clear that the state will not allow a caste-based census until the central Narendra Modi government officially announces the Sarna religion code.
In a press release issued after the event, Minister Tirkey stated that the freedom to choose one’s religion is a fundamental right enshrined in the Indian Constitution. She said, “We will not back down until the Sarna religion code is granted. Without it, no caste census will be conducted in Jharkhand.”
Her statement has sparked fresh political debate in the state. While opposition parties are yet to respond, several tribal organizations have already come out in support of the demand.
The call for a separate Sarna religion code has been a longstanding demand of the tribal communities in Jharkhand, aiming to secure official recognition for their distinct religious identity.