Indigenous people of the state of Jharkhand, located in Eastern India, gathered to protest against the government's decision to amend land laws, Reuters reports on Friday.
With the purpose to attract investments, the regional authorities have proposed amendments to the law to allow it to buy up protected tribal land and to lease it to investors for non-agricultural use.
According the rally’s participant, Premchand Murmu, the tribes, which have certain rights granted by the Constitution, will be deprived of these rights in case the amendments are adopted.
Having blocked roads in the state capital Ranchi, the protesters marched demonstrating anti-government slogans.
The regional government, on its part, believes that these measures will help to provide land for infrastructure construction, which is needed.
