Tribals’ role in freedom ignored to give credit to one family: PM Modi

Without taking the names of Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, he said: “We got Independence not just because of one party or one family. Tribal people greatly contributed towards the country’s freedom… The previous governments deliberately tried to suppress this fact so that all credit was given to one party and one family.”

“What was the Santhal rebellion? What was Kol Kranti? The brave Bheels also fought for freedom,” the PM said, naming several tribal heroes from across the country. Modi also launched a silver coin and a postal ticket after Birsa Munda. He said: “The tribals played a key role in transition of Prince Ram into Bhagwan Ram.”

Talking about the schemes launched for tribals by his government, the PM said: “The Centre has sanctioned `1.5 lakh new homes for tribals. About `11,000 families will get their pucca homes (constructed by the government) today.”

Modi thanked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for offering “full support” when “a tribal woman” Droupadi Murmu was made the presidential candidate by the BJP-led NDA.
“It was Droupadi Murmu, who as then Jharkhand Governor, had raised concerns about the poorest of the poor among tribals. Now, we have `24,000 crore-worth PM-JANMAN for them,” said the PM.

He said there were times when good officers would consider transfer to tribal districts as “shunting postings”. “Now, several energetic officers have been working in tribal areas,” he said, adding that schemes for sanitation, employment generation and potable water worth `80,000 crore were meant for about 5,000 tribal villages.