Jharkhand Congress demands Sarna religion code in Census, flags voter deletions
Synopsis
With the Census underway and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision approaching in Jharkhand, the state Congress unit is pressing two politically charged demands simultaneously: a Sarna religion code for over 1.25 crore tribal citizens, and a halt to what it calls mass voter deletions. Both issues strike at the heart of identity and democratic representation for tribal communities in one of India's most politically competitive states.
Key Takeaways
Jharkhand Congress demanded a Sarna religion code in the ongoing Census on 19 May , citing over 1.25 crore followers with no separate column to record their faith.
State Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and CLP leader Pradeep Yadav led the press conference in Ranchi .
The party alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls risks unfairly deleting crores of voters across the country.
Congress has mobilised its organisation to the booth level in Jharkhand ahead of the ECI's SIR exercise expected from June .
The leaders also demanded a fair probe into the alleged NEET paper leak and criticised rising fuel and commodity prices.
The Jharkhand unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) on Tuesday, 19 May demanded that the Centre include a dedicated Sarna religion code in the ongoing Census, asserting that over 1.25 crore tribal followers of the Sarna faith currently have no distinct column to record their religious identity. The demand was raised at a press conference in Ranchi, where senior party leaders also raised alarms over large-scale voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Sarna Code Demand
State Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pradeep Yadav said the absence of a Sarna code in Census forms effectively erases the religious and cultural identity of tribal communities. They described it as a decades-old demand that successive Central governments have continued to ignore.
The leaders alleged that the Centre has no intention of recognising the independent identity of tribal people. 'The party will continue to raise the issue of the Sarna religion code both on the streets and in the legislature,' they said, signalling a sustained campaign on the issue.
Voter List Deletions: Congress Raises Red Flag
Turning to electoral concerns, the Congress leaders alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is resulting in the removal of a large number of voters from rolls across the country. They warned that crores of voters could be unfairly disenfranchised, undermining democratic rights.
In Jharkhand, where the Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to launch the SIR exercise from June, the party said it will closely monitor developments. Congress has reportedly begun mobilising its organisation down to the booth level to ensure that voters' names are not dropped from the electoral rolls.
Inflation and Economic Grievances
Pradeep Yadav also criticised the Centre's economic policies, pointing to rising prices of fuel and essential commodities as an increasing burden on ordinary citizens. The leaders argued that the government's handling of inflation reflects a broader indifference to the economic hardships of the common people.
NEET Paper Leak: Probe Demanded
The Congress leaders further demanded a fair and transparent investigation by the Central government into the alleged NEET paper leak case. Yadav said that repeated irregularities in the national examination system are a matter of serious concern, with long-term consequences for students' futures. This comes amid ongoing scrutiny of examination integrity across several national-level tests in recent years.
What Comes Next
The Congress's push on the Sarna code is likely to intensify as the Census process advances, particularly given the political salience of tribal identity in Jharkhand. With the SIR exercise approaching and booth-level mobilisation already underway, the party appears to be positioning itself as the primary guardian of tribal and voter rights in the state ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. On voter rolls, the SIR concern deserves independent scrutiny — past intensive revision exercises have, in documented cases, led to disproportionate deletions in tribal and migrant-heavy constituencies. Whether this Congress campaign translates into legislative traction or remains a press-conference fixture will depend on whether tribal civil society organisations amplify it beyond party lines.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sarna religion code and why is Congress demanding it?
The Sarna religion code refers to a separate Census category for tribal communities who follow the indigenous Sarna faith, distinct from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, or other recognised religions. Congress argues that over 1.25 crore Sarna followers are currently unrecognised in Census data, erasing their distinct religious and cultural identity. The demand has been raised by tribal groups for decades but has not been acted upon by the Centre.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India exercise to update and clean up voter lists, which can involve adding new voters and deleting names that are deemed invalid or duplicated. Congress alleges the current SIR round is resulting in the unfair removal of crores of legitimate voters, particularly affecting tribal and marginalised communities. In Jharkhand, the exercise is expected to begin in June.
Why does the Sarna code matter for tribal communities in Jharkhand?
Jharkhand has one of India's largest tribal populations, and the absence of a Sarna code means followers of the indigenous faith are recorded under other religion categories, affecting their demographic visibility and potentially their access to policy benefits tied to religious identity. Tribal leaders and civil society groups argue this undercounting has long distorted representation and resource allocation.
What did Congress say about the NEET paper leak?
Congress leaders demanded a fair and transparent probe by the Central government into the alleged NEET paper leak, with Pradeep Yadav stating that repeated irregularities in national examinations pose a serious threat to students' futures. The party did not specify new evidence but linked it to a broader pattern of examination system failures.
How is Congress planning to respond to the SIR voter deletion concerns in Jharkhand?
The party said it has already begun activating its organisation down to the booth level across Jharkhand to monitor the SIR process and ensure that eligible voters' names are not removed from the electoral rolls. Senior leaders indicated they will raise the issue both in the streets and in the legislature if deletions are found to be unjustified.
