A meeting has been called in Keher village on November 5 to finalise the plan of action. The Congress, the BJP, the Shiv Sena, the Janata Dal and the CPM are expected to participate.

The rally will also focus on damage to kharif crops in the region.

Leaders from various parties in the region were unanimous about the backwardness, illiteracy and poverty of the tribals.

Former BJP MP Kachrubhau Raut and former Nashik Zilla Parishad president Pandurang Raut (Shiv Sena) alleged that the activities of missionaries were aimed at proselytizing rather than improving the quality of life of the tribals.

Kayre Sadadpade village meanwhile remained tense after the assault on converted tribals and the damage to their church on October 16. The assailants belongedto the same village and apparently took umbrage at the converts' refusal to contribute towards an annual tribal ritual. Four persons were hurt in the attack and the front wall and the tiled roof of the church were damaged. Twenty six arrests were made.

District superintendent of police Bhagwantrao More, when contacted, said attempts were being made to resolve the dispute. He said the converts and those who attacked them were closely related and that the issue needed to be handled at the village level.

The converted tribals have demanded that the church be repaired by those who damaged it. Gopal Mahadu Jadhav, who led the attack, however said that the converts should continue to observe traditional rituals, contribute to village-level rituals and observe a fast on Tuesdays.