An Indian Cardinal has accused the government of wanting to “demoralise and suppress” indigenous people after the tribal-dominated Jharkhand state banned people who have more than two children from contesting local body elections.
Cardinal Telesphore Toppo said the move by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state government was a way to politically sideline indigenous people who traditionally have large families.
"It is a human rights violation," said Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, who is based in Jharkhand state.
"Restricting our people, who generally have more than two children, to contest the election is blocking our people from coming up in life," said the Cardinal, who originates from Oraon tribe.
He said it was ironic that Jharkhand was created 17 years ago to ensure the advancement of indigenous people but is now working against them.
"The government wants to demoralise and suppress tribal people and crush any emerging leadership," he said.
Jharkhand has around nine million tribal people, who form 26 percent of the state’s 33 million population. About 1.5 million people in the state are Christians, at least half of them Catholics.
Earlier this year, the pro-Hindu BJP party passed the controversial Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act 2017, criminalising religious conversion by use of force or by fraudulent means. It also stipulates that those wanting to convert should seek government permission.
Cardinal Toppo said the law is "against the spirit and tenets" of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom to profess, preach and propagate religions of choice. The law is thought to be an attempt by hard-line Hindu groups to target Christians.
Last year, the government amended a law to remove the legal protection of tribal people's rights to their land, empowering the government to seize their farmland for developmental purposes.
Tribal people, including church groups and Cardinal Toppo, have campaigned against the amendments ever since the state legislature passed them in November 2016.
PICTURE: BJP National President Amit Shah, Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda are pictured in September Ranchi, India
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