BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Sunday once again raised the issue of changing demography of Santhal Pargana at Dumka on the occasion of Hul Diwas. Marandi after paying floral tributes to the statue of Veer Shaheed Sidhu Kanhu, the great hero of Hul revolution, he said that two years before the first freedom struggle of 1857, thousands of tribal brothers and sisters fought and sacrificed against the atrocities of the British under the leadership of Amar Shaheed Sidhu Kanhu from the land of Santhal Pargana, which is famous as Hul.

He said that due to Hul, laws like SPT, CNT were made to protect the water, forest, land and culture of the tribals. He said that today demography of Santhal Pargana is in danger.

Expressing concern over the rapidly declining population of the tribals, Marandi said that if we analyse the population between the census of 1951 and the census of 2011, then frightening facts are revealed. In 1951, the tribal population was 44.69% which decreased by 16% to 28.11% in 2011. While the Muslim population increased from 9.44% to 22.73% during this period. The population of the remaining communities increased from 43% to 49%.

He said that if the population of the tribal society continues to decrease in this manner, then by the time 100 years of independence and almost 200 years of Hul movement are completed, the existence of the Santhal tribal society will end.

He said that the situation of Sahibganj and Pakur district of Santhal Pargana is going from bad to worse. He said that laws for the protection of water, forest and land of the tribes are present but their existence is completely in danger.

He demanded from the state government that it should be thoroughly investigated at the ground level. Marandi demanded from the state government to form an SIT in this regard and conduct an investigation.