Rahul Gandhi, the president of the Congress Party, accused the Narendra Modi government on Sunday of weakening tribal empowerment laws drafted by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
According to Gandhi, tribals are the “first owners” of the country and have equal rights as other citizens. He spoke at the Adivasi Mahila Workers’ Sammelan in Jalgaon-Jamod in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district.
Gandhi alleged that the Modi government has been weakening laws such as Forest Rights, Land Rights, Panchayat Raj Acts, and reservations for women in local authorities.
According to him, Prime Minister Modi refers to tribal people as vanvasis. According to him, the words ‘Adivasi’ and ‘vanvasi’ have different meanings.
The word “Vanvasi” means that one can only live in jungles and not in cities, that one cannot become a doctor or engineer and cannot travel by plane.
Gandhi alleged the prime minister was planning to take away tribal land from the tribes and give it to his industrialist friends.
According to him, these laws will be strengthened when we come to power, and a new set of legislation will be drafted for your benefit.
His grandmother (former prime minister) Indira Gandhi, told him that the first owners of the country were the Adivasis.
If you do not understand the culture and history of the tribal people, you will not be able to understand the country.
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© The Deccan Era (P) Ltd
