BJP’s UCC strategy aims to balance tribal autonomy while consolidating Hindu votes in Jharkhand.
New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto for the Assembly elections in Jharkhand promises the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) but makes an exemption for tribals. The strategy to exempt tribals from UCC is being viewed with political scepticism, while the opposition, including JMM and Congress view this announcement of implementing UCC and National Register of Citizens (NRC) as a political move to polarise the voters.
The entire top brass of BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is BJP’s co-in-charge for Jharkhand elections, are accusing the ruling alliance in Jharkhand of encouraging infiltration for its political interests. The issue of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration in Jharkhand, particularly in the tribal belt of Santhal Pargana and Kolhan regions is being raised by BJP.
“Bangladeshi infiltrators are targeting tribal women and trapping them through multiple marriages and thus grabbing their land. Tribal culture is under threat. Once we come to power, we would identify each one of them and deport them”, said Shah while announcing the party’s manifesto for Jharkhand.
After the issues of infiltration and conversion, the issue of exemption of tribals from UCC is being seen as a strategic move to woo the tribal voters. However, Vishwa Hindu Parishad joint general secretary Surendra Jain said that “the move to exempt tribals from UCC is not a political move.”
Refuting the argument that tribals are different from Hindus, he said, “They (tribals) worship nature and Mother Earth. How can they be different from Hindus? We are all one and related to each other. This is a misconception that we are culturally or socially different from each other. Although, we haven’t seen the final draft of it, but yes, there would be a few exemptions for tribals as they have their own ancestral customs and other laws.”
With nearly 15% Muslim voters in the state and amidst the backdrop of demographic changes in the tribal belt, the announcement of implementing UCC, if BJP comes to power is a larger move to consolidate the Hindu voters. Similarly, exempting tribals from the ambit of UCC reflects the saffron party’s intention to defuse the tension in the tribal community over altering their ancient culture.
While BJP has been wooing the tribal community, which makes up make up nearly 30% of the state’s population, these latest announcements come in the backdrop of the party’s dismal performance in the last Assembly polls and the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. In the 2019 Assembly elections, BJP won 25 of the 81 Assembly seats but only two of 28 reserved for Scheduled Tribes. It won eight of the 14 seats in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, but none of the five reserved for STs.
Samir Oraon, national president of ST Morcha (BJP), who is contesting the Jharkhand elections from the Bishnupur seat said, “The announcement to bring in UCC and to exempt tribals from it is not a political move. Earlier also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that whenever UCC would be brought in, tribals’ rights (under 5th and 6th Schedules) would be protected.”
Earlier also, when announcements were being made by the BJP top brass on UCC, tribal communities from Northeast protested against it. This approach by BJP also addresses the concerns raised by tribal communities in the Northeast, and signals the party’s political strategy to earn the trust of the tribals by respecting their autonomy and distinct cultural practices.