Gujarat Polls 2022: Congress Insults Tribals, Mocked Me For Wearing Tribal Attire, Says PM Modi

Gujarat Election 2022: PM Modi said that tribals have been living since the days of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, and yet Congress is oblivious to their existence.

PM Modi addressing a rally in Gujarat's Jambusar

Source : PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Congress party always remained unaware of the existence of the tribals. Taking a jibe at the Congress, he said that tribals have been living since the time of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna and yet Congress leaders never knew Adivasis existed. 

Addressing a rally in Gujarat’s Jambusar, Modi said, "For a very long time, Congress leaders remained unaware of the existence of tribals in India. Weren't they living here since the days of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna?.. Weren't they part of the 1857 mutiny? Tribals did so many things for this country. But Congress leaders never knew that Adivasis existed." 

Jambusar is a town in the tribal-dominated Bharuch district of Gujarat. 

He said that Congress always mocked him for wearing tribal attires at public functions. PM also questioned the grand-old party for not having a separate ministry for the welfare of tribals.  

"Otherwise, why was there no separate ministry for tribals until Atal Bihari Vajpayee became prime minister? It was Atalji's government at the Centre which carved out a separate ministry and allocated a budget for their welfare. Even today, Congress leaders make fun of me for wearing tribal attire, " he said. 

PM Modi said that tribals cannot expect Congress to improve their condition because Congress leaders mock tribals outfit and insult tribals regularly. 

"While past Congress candidates left tribals to fend for themselves in Gujarat, it was BJP, after coming to power, resolved their issues such as education, health, malnutrition and employment among others," he added. 

PM Modi’ statement comes after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday told a gathering of tribals at Mahuva in Surat district that they are the "first owners" of the country but BJP was trying to take away their rights.  

On Sunday, while addressing ‘Adivasi Mahila Sammelan’, Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of weakening the laws framed by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to empower tribals. 

He said that his party will not let the current government weaken these laws and will strengthen them further after coming to power again. 

Voting in poll-bound Gujarat will take place in two phases on December 1 and December 5 while counting will be done on December 8 along with Himachal Pradesh.

(With PTI Inputs)