Adivasis are Hindus: Law Minister cites Protection of Civil Rights Act
- Adivasis have been included as persons professing the Hindu religion in the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
Highlights:
- Various central Acts, including the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, defined ‘Hindus’.
- In the explanation to Section 3 of the Act, “Persons professing the Buddhist, Sikh or Jaina religion or persons professing the Hindu religion in any of its forms or developments including Virashaivas, Lingayats, Adivasis, followers of Brahmo, Prarthana, Arya Samaj and the Swaminarayan Sampraday shall be deemed to be Hindus.
- While Section 3 of the Act lays down the punishment for enforcing religious disabilities on the grounds of “untouchability”
- Section 4 of the Act stipulates the punishment for enforcing social disabilities on the grounds of “untouchability”.
- 31 member Joint Parliamentary Committee formed to examine Waqf Amendment Bill
- Adivasi movements in Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan and elsewhere have been demanding that their indigenous religion of Sarna be recognised.
- They have argued that their worship is distinctly different from Hinduism, further objecting to being classified as Hindus.
Prelims Takeaway
- Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955