“BJP changed name of tribals, they don’t want to give them rights”: Rahul Gandhi

Launching a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the BJP has changed the name of the tribals as the party does not want to give them their rights.

The remark by Gandhi was made while addressing a public gathering during the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Gujarat’s Bharuch.

“The population of the tribals in the country stands at 8%; the OBC and backward class constitute 50% of the population; the Dalits account for 15%; there are 15% of the minorities; and the poor belonging to the general class constitute 5%,” Gandhi said.

“Tribal means the first owners of the land in India. If the tribals were the first owners of India, then they should get the first participation…Forest dweller means the one who lives in the forest. The BJP calls you a forest dweller, not tribal.

They changed your name because they don’t want to give you rights,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi further said, “Now, check out the list of the CEOs running the top 200 companies in India; you won’t find the single name of a tribal person. Similar is the situation with media companies too. Where is your participation? In bureaucracy, there are 90 officers who hold the decision-making power, out of whom, there is only one tribal person.”

Taking a dig at the BJP, the Congress leader alleged that the former is “afraid” to conduct the caste census.