In a scathing critique, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for labeling tribals as ‘vanvasi,’ asserting that this term is an affront to their identity. Speaking to a gathering of party workers in Chhattisgarh’s capital, Raipur, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the original significance of the term ‘tribal,’ representing the indigenous inhabitants of the nation who historically possessed the land, water, and forests, with the first rights over these resources.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come in the wake of the RSS using the term ‘vanvasi’ instead of ‘Adivasi’ for tribal communities in 2022. This issue has been a consistent focus for him, with previous condemnations during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh, as well as during assembly elections in Karnataka and Gujarat last year.
While addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi underscored the Congress government’s role in introducing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and contrasted the party’s approach with the BJP’s. He argued that the BJP aims to confine tribals to the jungles, while the Congress advocates for their rights to water, forests, land, and the pursuit of their dreams.
Drawing a distinction between the two major political parties, Rahul Gandhi also criticized the Central government’s capitalist ideology. He pointed to the relationship between Adani Group and the Prime Minister, alleging that Adani had transferred vast sums of money abroad and witnessed a surge in stock market prices. Rahul Gandhi raised questions about the lack of inquiry into this matter and voiced concerns about Adani’s extensive acquisitions, including infrastructure, airports, and potentially railways.
In his address, Rahul Gandhi emphasized Chhattisgarh’s pivotal role in India and urged the youth to work towards making it a logistical hub for the nation, facilitating the processing and manufacturing of goods to be distributed across states and globally. He envisioned a future where Chhattisgarh serves as a central nexus for India’s economic activities, solidifying its place at the heart of the country.
