Ranchi, Aug 26 (IANS): Tribals in Jharkhand have intensified their agitation against Mother Mary in tribal attire and demanded that this be reversed.

In a Ranchi church, a statue of Mother Mary has been installed in which she is wearing tribal sari, with bangles on her arm.

Thousands of tribals marched towards the church on Sunday, but the police stopped them.

"We demand removal of tribal dress from statue of Mother Mary by Dec 24. We have right to protect our religion. We have convened Mahapanchayat of tribal community in Ranchi Dec 25 and a decision will be taken on the issue," Bandhan Tigga, a tribal religious leader, told reporters here Monday.

Prem Sahi Munda, president of Adivasi Jan Parisad, said: "No religion has right to hurt the sentiments of another religion. By portraying Mother Mary in tribal dress, the sentiment of our community has been hurt. We also demand that the government funds meant for tribal sub-plan should not be given to Christian organizations."

On Sunday, tribal Panchayat passed a seven point resolution which includes excluding Christian tribal from reservation benefit, tribal festival like Karma and Sarhul should not be celebrated in church, and total ban on conversion of tribal people.