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Time of India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-min Netam switches stand on delisting of tribals, questions Cong
Raipur: Former Union minister and senior tribal leader Arvind Netam after attending a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( ) event in Nagpur, said that the visit offered him a new perspective on the Sangh's inner workings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to the mediapersons on Saturday in Raipur, Netam said he discussed measures to reduce the ideological distance with tribal people. Netam also thanked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for inviting him. Netam announced a change in his position on the issue of delisting, which refers to the removal of individuals from the Scheduled Tribe list if they convert to another religion. He said that although he once opposed delisting, he "now supports it as a way to check forced or induced religious conversions among tribal people". Responding to the criticism from Congress MP Deepak Baij, who questioned Netam's growing proximity to the RSS, Netam hit back by asking whether Baij himself had "converted to Christianity". Netam further challenged the Congress party to clearly state its position on religious conversions. He brought up the protection of tribal land, forests, and water resources as another major concern. He argued that land acquisition for industrial use must not result in the permanent loss of tribal-land ownership. Instead, he suggested that such land be provided on lease, allowing tribal families to retain their rights and connection to their land.
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chhattisgarh tribal leader Arvind Netam bats for delisting STs who have converted their religion
Veteran tribal leader and former Union Minister Arvind Netam has thrown his weight behind the demand from certain quarters that those who convert their religion be delisted from the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Speaking to journalists in Raipur on Saturday , the long-time former Congressman, who has now retired from active politics, said his stance on the issue had 'changed' as it helped in 'checking religious conversions'. Mr. Netam had called a press conference in the State capital two days after attending the concluding ceremony of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh's (RSS) 25-day training camp in Nagpur, the 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg - Dwitiya', as its chief guest. 'Their policy on delisting… initially, I was opposed to it but later I felt this was one of the ways to stop religious conversions so we accepted that we agree with you (the RSS). So there are many issues that I placed in front of them,' Mr. Netam said on the sidelines of the press conference. Delisting refers to the demand to remove indigenous people converted to Christianity and Islam from the list of STs. One of the earliest proponents of the idea in independent India was the late Kartik Oraon, a former Congress MP, who had made an unsuccessful attempt in 1968 to de-schedule Christian tribals by introducing a Bill in Parliament. In recent years, there have been voices in support of it in both the Sarguja region of Chhattisgarh, and the southern tribal heartland of Bastar, by various groups under the Sangh Parivar. The issue goes hand in hand with opposition to religious conversions, and is getting mainstreamed. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, in a video interview in May, had referred to Oraon's attempts, and had said that delisting could prevent conversions. His fellow Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren from Jharkhand had in April said that Adivasis who converted to other religions should be delisted. When The Hindu asked why he had changed his stance on the issue, and why he had been opposed to it earlier, Mr. Netam said that he had had concerns that the number of seats reserved for tribals (29 in the 90-member House) might come down. 'I was worried about the reservations, that the seats might decrease due to delisting. But after studying, I found that in Chhattisgarh, only one or two seats will be reduced,' he said. Beyond reservation The clamour in support of delisting has been mostly around reservations in jobs, education, and promotions that the Constitution of India guarantees for STs. Legal experts and activists, however, fear that it could have far-reaching consequences beyond mere reservation benefits because delisting can extend to other areas, including land protection, atrocities and oppression. Furthermore, the impact of an eventual delisting — which is largely theoretical at this point — would be felt beyond Chhattisgarh. Answering a question on its possible consequences for Christian-majority communities in the northeast, Mr. Netam said that it would make little impact in those areas as an overwhelming majority of the population there was tribal, unlike other areas, including Chhattisgarh, which have a mixed population.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
RSS chief: Forced conversion is violence, reconversion is correction
Nagpur: Forced or allured conversion is violence, and bringing tribal brethren back to their original fold is correction, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat during the valedictory function of RSS' Karyakarta Vikas Varg-II at Hedgewar Smruti Mandir premises in Reshimbagh on Thursday. Bhagwat was responding to concerns raised by the chief guest, former Congressman and minister in Indira Gandhi's govt, Arvind Netam, who warned the gathering of swayamsevaks that widespread conversions threaten the identity and existence of India's tribal communities. "If this continues unchecked, tribals may meet the same fate as Red Indians in America, who have lost their identity," Netam cautioned, urging a strong anti-conversion law and proactive measures by RSS. Former US Congressman Bill Shuster, Bob Shuster (founder-partner of One Plus Strategies), policy expert Bradford Ellison, international affairs scholar Prof Walter Russell Mead, and AI researcher Bill Dreskell were other chief guests at the RSS event. Calling tribals an integral and inseparable part of India's civilizational soul, Bhagwat said, "Tribal beliefs are the origin of Hindu culture, religion, and civilization. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Dodge Ram 1500 Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) SocialGazette Undo Today's Hinduism cannot be imagined without them." He asserted that RSS sees all Indians, regardless of religion or region as brothers born of the same soil. "Our roots are the same. Our values are built on good faith, virtue, collaboration, and unity, be it tribal, non-tribal or urban," he said. Netam, an influential tribal voice in Chhattisgarh politics, has since stepped away from party and electoral politics to focus on grassroots welfare in tribal areas. Expressing confidence in the potential of the Sangh to reach deeper into tribal regions, Netam shared, "I'm working to bridge the intellectual gap between tribals and the Sangh. In one of our programmes, I invited RSS functionary Ram Lal as chief guest, and his address helped erase several misconceptions tribals had about the Sangh. " He also hailed the Centre's successful handling of Maoist insurgency, especially in the Bastar region. "But we must ensure that Maoism doesn't return in another form. This is where RSS has a big role to play," said Netam, adding tribals must be granted a "separate religious identity code" to prevent their manipulation by separatists and conversion agents. Addressing this appeal, Bhagwat reiterated tribals are not distinct from Hinduism but its very foundation. He affirmed the Sangh's commitment to inclusive development and cultural preservation. "Environmental conservation and development are not opposites. It is possible to achieve both simultaneously," Bhagwat said. Responding to Netam's appeal that tribals must not be displaced from their land in the name of industrial development, Bhagwat acknowledged the concern. Netam proposed that land acquired for mining or development be taken on lease and returned to tribal families once the projects conclude. The event marked a significant confluence of perspectives — Bhagwat's ideological guidance and Netam's grassroots insight — both underlining the need for cohesive national integration while preserving the tribal identity and addressing their pressing concerns.
India Today
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Why RSS invite to ex-Congress leader Arvind Netam stirred Chhattisgarh politics
Veteran tribal leader Arvind Netam, who served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Indira Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao, has raised eyebrows in Chhattisgarh's political circles after he got an invitation from the RSS to be the chief guest of an 83, a former Congressman, will not only share the stage with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the organisation's volunteer training camp, Karyakarta Vikas Varg-Dwithiya Samapan Samaroh, he will also speak at the closing ceremony, where he will highlight a host of significant tribal is hosting this event as it marks the end of the three-year training period for swayamsevaks. It's a deja vu for the Congress as late former President Pranab Mukherjee was also invited to the same event by the RSS in 2018, which was criticised by the party. Speaking to India Today TV, Netam said he was surprised to get an invitation from the RSS."I am surprised that RSS has invited me to a part of such a crucial event. But, I'm going to use this opportunity to highlight a bunch of tribal issues, as the RSS is a guiding force to the BJP and the party is in power in Chhattisgarh. Currently, despite having a tribal chief minister at the helm, there is a huge communication gap between the tribals and the government," he factions manage to work remotely in the tribal regions in the state. Though I'm not politically active currently, I'll raise the issues efficiently as I feel that to get the BJP's attention. This is the best I can do," he on the issues that he would be underlining, Netam said, "Religious conversion is the most important issue that I'm going to raise. It is rampantly taking place and needs immediate attention by the government. Unfortunately, my own community is sleeping over it and I'm going to seek the RSS's help as they keep consistently working on it across the nation.""Apart from that, industrialisation is also an important issue which the state government is not serious about and doesn't have the political will to resolve. Only the RSS can do something about it. It's dangerous how the PESA Act is being taken as a joke in the country, without consulting the tribals. Their lands are being given to industrialists. Only communication with the villagers can resolve this complex issue. For that, the central government must be on board which the RSS can only convey," he exited the Congress in 2023 after floating his own tribal front named Hamar Raj Party, which managed to dent the Congress's vote shares in a couple of assembly and parliamentary seats. However, the party said that if Netam joins the BJP, it will not hurt the grand old is certainly a huge tribal leader. But, tribal people are aware of the RSS's intentions. Netam will lose ground in Bastar if he joins the BJP," Congress spokesperson Sushil Shukla the other hand, the BJP feels that the RSS doesn't discriminate among people and believes in working for the welfare of the senior political analyst Sunil Kumar opined that the "Congress was not investing enough time on finding real issues and converting a non-issue into politics"."It is unfair on Netam that the Congress is attacking him despite Netam having no association with the party. The party shouldn't forget that Netam was also a part of the BJP. So, I consider this as a good move as one may be ideologically on different pages with the RSS. The robust organisation has lakhs of active members and it keeps working closely through their various frontal factions across the nation. He (Netam) will escalate various tribal issues efficiently," he Watch IN THIS STORY#Chhattisgarh#Indian National Congress#Bharatiya Janta Party
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Business Standard
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Mutual understanding among political class should continue: RSS chief
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the mutual understanding shown by the political class following the Pahalgam terror attack and action taken by India later should continue and become a permanent feature. The society also gave a message of unity, Bhagwat said, addressing the concluding event of the Karyakarta Vikas Varg for RSS volunteers. After the heinous terror attack, people were sad and angry and wanted the culprits to be punished. Action was taken and punishment was meted out, Bhagwat said. Everyone saw the grit of our country's decision makers in the action taken after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said. Action was taken after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. The valour of our army shone once again in it. The firmness of the administration was also seen. The political class also showed mutual understanding. The society also gave the message of its unity. This should remain continue and be a permanent feature, he said. India should be self-dependent in matters of our security, he said. Without naming Pakistan, Bhagwat said, Those who can't win a direct fight with India want to bleed our country by the policy of a thousand cuts and waging proxy war. Tribal leader Arvind Netam, who served in the cabinets of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's volunteer training camp. The 25-day training camp, Karyakarta Vikas Varg Dwitiya, in which 840 volunteers from across the country participated, began on May 12 at Dr Hedgewar Smriti Mandir located in Reshimbag area of Nagpur. Netam, who hails from Chhattisgarh, said no state government has so far taken the issue of religious conversions seriously. I think RSS is the only institution which can help us in this area, he said. The RSS should pressure Central government to come out with an action plan after Naxalism ends, to ensure that the menace does not revive, he said. Netam said no government implemented the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. The Central government is mum and even helping the industrialists, he added. The PESA Act aims to ensure self-governance in tribal areas through Gram Sabhas, empowering them to manage resources and make decisions related to their communities.
