Convert tribals who have changed religion should be removed from ST list: K’taka BJP

Bengaluru, June 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP Legislative Council member Shantaram Siddi has demanded that members of tribal communities who have converted to other religions be removed from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list, alleging that genuine indigenous tribal communities are being deprived of benefits because of them.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday, he said there are around 12 crore tribal people in the country, of whom an estimated 1–2 crore have converted to other religions. He alleged that a significant share of welfare benefits meant for tribal communities is being availed by converted tribals.

“In some places, these individuals are allegedly taking advantage of benefits available both as Scheduled Tribes and through the religion they have converted to, thereby misusing the system,” he claimed.

Highlighting what he described as an injustice, Siddi said a large national convention was recently organised in New Delhi by the Janjati Suraksha Vedike (Tribal Protection Forum). Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the event, following which a memorandum was submitted to the President of India.

“We are not opposed to any religion or faith. However, our clear stand is that those who have converted to another religion should not continue to receive government benefits meant for the original tribal communities,” he said.

Responding sharply to a letter from Minister Priyank Kharge on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Siddi questioned the minister’s understanding of the organisation.

“Even those who regularly attend RSS shakhas may not claim to understand the organisation completely. Then how can Priyank Kharge be expected to know everything about it?” he remarked.

He said Kharge may have raised certain questions from a legal standpoint, but went on to explain the RSS’s functioning.

“RSS is merely a disciplined institution focused on character-building and personality development. There are no financial transactions of any kind within the organisation, so questions regarding finances do not arise,” he said.

Describing the RSS as an “open book,” Siddi added, “All RSS activities take place openly in public grounds and are visible to everyone. Beyond that, there is no need for us to respond to unnecessary questions.”

Source: IANS