Ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has put himself in a challenging position by describing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as “anti-tribal.” Speaking in Ranchi on October 19, he stated, “The BJP calls tribals ‘Vanvasi,'” and criticized India’s education system for including only “10-15 lines about tribals.” His comments have sparked significant backlash.
The BJP quickly seized on his remarks, arguing that the education system he refers to was established during the Congress’s own governance. They pointed out that the party has historically overlooked influential tribal figures like Birsa Munda and current President Droupadi Murmu.
By making these claims, Rahul Gandhi inadvertently provided the BJP with ammunition to question the Congress’s record on tribal issues. This is not the first time he has found himself in such a predicament; he had previously remarked on the system being “anti-Dalit.”
In his attempt to resonate with tribal sentiments, he stated, “I studied in India’s educational system, and there’s almost nothing about the tribals’ history and way of life.” He raised questions about the recognition of marginalized groups, saying, “Where is the history of farmers, labourers, carpenters, barbers, and cobblers who built this country?”
These statements are particularly striking given that Gandhi was educated while the Congress party was in power, which raises questions about his critique of a system the party helped shape.
BJP leader Babulal Marandi responded forcefully, noting, “Rahul Gandhi is right that the Congress and the Gandhi family have neglected the history and culture of tribal communities for decades. Under Congress rule, tribal history was only superficially acknowledged in textbooks.”
Additionally, Rahul Gandhi’s comments seem to overlook that the BJP played a role in the creation of states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. During the formation of Jharkhand, Lalu Prasad Yadav, then a Congress ally, famously opposed the state’s establishment.
Champai Soren, a key tribal leader, also criticized Gandhi, asserting, “Congress crushed the Jharkhand movement. The party has historically diminished the significance of tribal issues.”
Meanwhile, Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a Congress ally, faces allegations of land grabbing from tribals. There are also accusations against the Congress in Karnataka regarding financial mismanagement of funds meant for tribal development, with reports suggesting these funds were misappropriated for political gain during elections.
The Congress party’s involvement in promoting illegal migration in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana district has also drawn criticism, with the state’s dwindling tribal population raising further concerns.