Dungarpur, Rajasthan — Leaders of the Adivasi Janadhikar Eka Manch, Rajasthan State Committee, have strongly criticized Tribal Development Minister Babulal Kharadi for his recent statement proposing the removal of reservation benefits from Adivasis who have converted to other religions.

Vimal Bhogora, Secretary of the Adivasi Janadhikar Eka Manch, argued that the Indian Constitution does not permit either granting or rescinding reservations based on religion. He emphasized that the Supreme Court has repeatedly clarified that reservation based on religious grounds is unconstitutional.

Bhogora pointed out that the Constitution prohibits discrimination based on caste, religion, region, or gender, making Minister Kharadi’s proposal entirely unconstitutional.

He asserted that reservations for Adivasis are granted based on their caste and not their religion, and that the Constitution allows every citizen the right to choose their religion freely.

Dulichand Meena, State President of the Adivasi Janadhikar Eka Manch, urged Minister Kharadi to seek advice from constitutional experts rather than the RSS. Meena criticized the minister for violating his oath to protect the Constitution and cited the example of the Bakarwal community in Jammu and Kashmir, a converted Muslim community that receives reservation benefits. He warned that the BJP and RSS are attempting to incite communal violence in the TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) areas similar to the riots in Manipur.

The Manch condemned Minister Kharadi’s delisting proposal as anti-tribal and unconstitutional. They warned that delisting would directly impact the tribal population ratio, reducing their representation in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, Panchayati Raj institutions, government jobs, and education.

Such a move would also affect the Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas designated for tribal development and decrease the budget allocations for tribal welfare.

Premchand Pargi, another member of the organisation, accused the RSS of using delisting to divide Adivasis along religious lines and weaken their unity.

He argued that this strategy is intended to prevent a united fight against the government’s anti-tribal policies, which he claims are handing over tribal resources like water, forests, and land to large domestic and foreign capitalists.

Pargi criticized Minister Kharadi for neglecting basic infrastructure needs in his region while playing communal politics.

Prabhulal Bhogora, another committee member, highlighted the plight of tribal children being trafficked to Delhi from the minister’s region. He accused Minister Kharadi of distracting attention from pressing issues and failing to focus on the development of the TSP areas.

The Adivasi Janadhikar Eka Manch called on all political parties and organizations that believe in the Constitution to oppose Minister Babulal Kharadi’s anti-tribal and unconstitutional statements.

Kharadi Expresses Concern Over Increasing Religious Conversions

Cabinet Minister for Tribal Regional Development Babulal Kharadi raised serious concerns on Sunday over the increasing number of religious conversions in the Adivasi belt, particularly in South Rajasthan.

Speaking to the media after attending a meeting regarding the revised state budget for the year 2024-25 in Dungarpur, Kharadi stated that while there are no restrictions on anyone to follow any religion or practice of their choice, concerns arise when innocent tribal populations are lured into conversions under promises of education, health benefits, or other inducements.

Delisting individuals who have converted to another religion is therefore a necessary measure, he said. This has sparked a controversy.