Jharkhand’s Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan burns effigies of CM Hemant Soren and 30 other legislators, accusing them of betraying the tribal community to push for ST status for the Kurmis for political vote-bank gains.
In a significant protest at Tilka Murmu Chowk, Jainamore, the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan publicly burned effigies of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, 28 tribal MLAs, five tribal MPs, and two MLAs from general seats, Babulal Marandi and Kalpana Soren. The demonstration, led by Bokaro District President and Zonal Head Sukhdev Murmu, signals a major escalation in the tribal unrest within the state.
The protest centers on the highly contentious issue of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Kurmi/Mahato community. Devnarayan Murmu, the Jharkhand State President of SENGEL, who was present at the event, accused the ruling JMM party of being behind the recent “Rail Roko” (rail blockade) agitation by the Kurmi community on September 20, 2025. He alleged that JMM, in a bid to secure votes, has pre-decided to grant ST status to the Kurmis, both directly and indirectly, and is fueling the community’s agitation for political gain.
Murmu stated that the Kurmi community’s claim of being tribes before 1950 should be verified in a recognized High Court or the Supreme Court. He warned that including Kurmis/Mahatos in the ST list would be a direct assault on the identity, existence, and share of resources of the state’s original tribal communities, including the Santhal, Ho, Munda, Oraon, Kharia, Bhumij, Pahadia, and Gond tribes. He asserted that instead of opposing the Kurmi community, the tribal populace must directly oppose the 28 tribal MLAs of the JMM party who are supporting this move for vote-bank politics.
The leaders further recalled that on February 8, 2018, Hemant Soren, along with 42 MLAs and two MPs, had signed a primary proposal advocating for ST status for the Kurmi/Mahato community. They accused Soren of inviting a situation akin to the ethnic tensions of Manipur by making false promises. The protest was punctuated with loud slogans of “Hemant Soren Murdabad” and demands for the government to come to its senses, stop its attempt to designate Kurmis as tribes, and break its silence on the issue. The group issued an ultimatum, demanding that the government clarify its stand and side either with the Kurmis or the tribal society, failing which the Chief Minister should resign. They also threatened to stage a siege at the residences of the 28 tribal MLAs if necessary.
The effigy burning event saw the participation of hundreds of supporters, including central coordinator Haradhan Marandi, and representatives from various tribal and religious organizations such as the Luguburu Ghanta Badi Sarna Dharma Gadh Samiti. Key leaders from across the state, including Secretary Lobin Murmu, State Coordinator Jairam Soren, Karamchand Hansda, and Chandramohan Marandi, President of Sengel Majhi Pargana Mandwa, were also present. A long list of attendees, including numerous women, was noted, underscoring the widespread support for the agitation within the tribal community.
FAQs
1. Why are tribal groups in Jharkhand protesting against Chief Minister Hemant Soren?
Tribal groups, specifically the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan, are protesting against CM Hemant Soren and his party’s MLAs for allegedly supporting the inclusion of the Kurmi/Mahato community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. They accuse the government of making this move for vote-bank politics, which they claim will dilute the rights, resources, and identity of the state’s original tribal communities.
2. What specific action did the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan take during their protest?
The organization staged a symbolic protest at Tilka Murmu Chowk in Jainamore, where they publicly burned effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, 28 tribal MLAs from the JMM party, five tribal MPs, and two other legislators.
3. What is the main demand of the protesting tribal outfit?
Their primary demand is for the state government to immediately stop the process of granting ST status to the Kurmi community. They have issued an ultimatum for the government to break its silence and clearly state its position, threatening to escalate their agitation by surrounding the residences of the supporting MLAs if their demands are not met.