Gujarat group bid to take over Pathalgarhi in Jharkhand?

RANCHI: Leaders of the Sati-Pati movement, a Gujarat-based tribal group that denounces the rule of the government, are trying to take over the Pathalgarhi movement of tribal villages in Khunti and adjoining districts of Jharkhand. A two-day meeting with tribal villagers was organised in Gutigara village under Murhu block of Khunti that concluded on Tuesday. Though police camped close to the venue, they refrained from interfering in the meeting, which was organised under the title of Vishwa Shanti Sammelan (world peace congregation).The group allegedly asked the villagers to boycott polls.
Highly placed sources told TOI that the main leaders of the Sati-Pati movement from Katasvan village under Vyara taluka of Surat district, hometown of Kunwar Keshri Singh- the founder of the group - and his followers from tribal-dominated villages in Maharashtra addressed the meeting and distributed booklets among the villagers. The Sati-Pati group believes in natural rule and considers tribals the real owners of the land. They not only defy administration but refuse to accept laws made by people.
The booklets circulated among the villagers (a copy is with TOI) explain the beliefs of the group in a question-and-answer format. One of the topics covered is why tribals have surrendered their Aadhaar card to the governor and why they should also get rid of voter ID cards, ration cards and any other document issued by the government. "Tribals are the real owners of the land. They don't cast votes. It is the Indians and those employed with the government who cast votes because they keep changing. The tribals, wherever they reside, would be governed by their traditional autonomous ruling system. Supreme Court judgment of 1971 says India would be governed by natural law. Another ruling of Supreme Court dated September 7, 2001 also says it is not election but natural rule that's supreme," the booklet states.
Admitting that a meeting went on for two days, Khunti SP Asutosh Shekhar said that the police was keeping a close watch on it. "There were people from Gujarat and Maharashtra, but we have not heard whether they have asked the villagers to boycott polls. Since they have already dispersed, the police deployment has been removed," he said. Asked if the meeting was illegal in any way, Shekhar said that the group is not banned even in Gujarat, so they are free to hold public meetings.
Several villages in Khunti have been demanding tribal autonomy by erecting stone slabs as part of a movement that has come to be known as Pathalgarhi. Former Khunti SP Ashwani Kumar had told TOI in June 2018 that Yousuf Purty, one of the tribal leaders who spearheaded the Pathalgarhi movement had been to Gujarat to obtain training under the Sati Pati group leaders.