PM Modi targets Cong over plight of tribals
Modi slams the opposition party for “neglecting” adivasis during its previous rule in government
BHOPAL: Reaching out to tribals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded their contribution to Indian culture through the ages and said Lord Ram drew inspiration from them during his exile as he slammed the Congress for “neglecting” adivasis during its previous rules.
Tribals were now partners in the country’s development and benefitting from various welfare schemes launched by the BJPled government, he said.
The PM also announced that henceforth Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, the birth anniversary of revered tribal icon Birsa Munda, will be celebrated like Gandhi Jayanti, Sardar Patel Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti.
“When we talk about tribesmen’s contribution some people get worried. They don’t believe in the immense contribution of tribals to Indian culture. Their contribution had not been explained to the countrymen. People were kept in the dark,” Modi said, addressing a mega tribal meet organised on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas here. “Those who ran governments in the past did not give priority to them. The country’s 10 per cent (tribal) population was neglected,” he said, attacking the Congress without naming the party.
“Tribals were not given their dues by the earlier governments and were deprived of basic facilities,” he said.
Drawing on history and referring to the Ramayana period, the PM said Lord Ram drew inspiration from life of tribals when he was in exile and stayed inside forests. “The time spent with tribals made a husge impact and turned a prince into the most perfect man. Lord Ram drew inspiration from every aspect of forest dwellers’ life,” Modi said.
Development is now taking place in 100 aspirational districts which remained backward during the earlier (Congress) regimes, Modi said.
Modi said India is celebrating the first Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas after Independence, adding the tribals’ art and culture, and their contribution to the freedom struggle and nation-building is being remembered with pride.
The country cannot forget the bravery of Gond queen Durgawati or the sacrifice of Rani
Kamlapati, he said. “The previous regimes have committed a crime by ignoring the tribal icons and their contribution. The contribution of the tribal society was either not told to the country and even if told, very limited information was given,” Modi said. The PM said he was moved when the recipients of Padma Shri working for tribals came barefoot to the award ceremony in New Delhi. “The indigenous community never lacked talents, but unfortunately the previous governments did not give them opportunity,” he said.
Modi said now the tribals, along with the rest of India, were reaping the benefits of different welfare schemes.
They are partners in the country’s development and their welfare is a top priority for the government, he said.
The Prime Minister praised the tribals for their large-scale participation in the vaccination drive against COVID-19 and asked others to learn for them.
Modi lauded Birsa Munda, Rani Kamalapati and other tribal heroes. The Prime Minister recalled how people of the Bhil tribe helped Rajput king Maharana Pratap.
The struggle of Veer Maharana Pratap cannot be imagined without the brave Bhil tribe who fought shoulder to shoulder and made sacrifices, Modi said.
“We owe a lot to the tribal people,” he added.
On Sunday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged the BJP was using the names of tribal icons Birsa Munda and Gond queen Rani Kamalapati for political benefit but in reality, some leaders of the ruling party are committing “atrocities” against tribal people in the state.