Tribals will always be outside UCC purview, HM Amit Shah allays fears

He also said that the tribals have adopted the most sustainable model of conservation of resources.

"Forests, hills and water bodies are centres of faith. The Narendra Modi government respects the tribal identity and culture. In fact, tribals have adopted the most sustainable model of conservation of resources," he said at the Janjati Sanskritik Samagam' in the national capital.

He also said that nobody should forcefully convert the tribals.

"Forceful conversion of tribals will be dealt strictly. Let us pledge from this soil to protect one's religion and not succumb to any external pulls," he added.

Praising the Modi government for a slew of pro-tribal steps, Shah said the BJP appointed members of the community to top-most posts in the country, be it President Droupadi Murmu, or chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Shah addressed nearly 1.5 lakh members of tribal communities during the grand Janjati Sanskritik Samagam organized at the Red Fort grounds in Delhi. He stated that this gathering would be remembered as the “Mahakumbh of Tribal Communities.”

He said this cultural congregation would, for years to come, be recognized as a movement that gave a new identity to the struggle for the existence, identity, and culture of tribal communities.

Referring to the principles of sustainable development, Amit Shah described Birsa Munda’s efforts to protect jal, jungle, zameen (water, forests, and land) as universal in nature. He added that nature worship forms the fundamental basis of Sanatan culture.

He further stated that significant welfare work for tribal communities began after the BJP government came to power and noted that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had established the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

National Convener of Janjati Suraksha Manch, Ganesh Ram Bhagat, said that the influence of religious conversion was spreading rapidly among tribal communities and described it as a “cancer” for society. He added that the gathering represented a vast ocean of tribal society.