Seeking to give a fresh perspective to AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s “Discover India” tour, the Congress on Tuesday linked it with the party’s special focus on tribal regions.“Since 2004, you have seen some of the most unique, unprecedented, innovative, creative, special-focus programmes for the tribals by the Congress-led UPA Government,” said AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, adding that Rahul’s trip should be seen as part of that “holistic continuity”. Citing the example of the Tribal Rights Act, Singhvi said it was a unique post-independence achievement. He added that Rahul’s special focus on these communities was well known.The Amethi MP will visit the tribal districts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as part of his nationwide tour from April 25 to 28. According to the Congress spokesperson, Rahul’s visit to the two states is just the first phase of the programme. He is set to visit tribal areas in other states including Jharkhand also.Meanwhile, hours after BSP members forced adjournment in both Houses of Parliament demanding immediate financial package of Rs 80,000 crore for Uttar Pradesh and shouting slogans like “stop politics” over Bundelkhand, in an indirect reference to Rahul’s recent visit there, the Congress said the party and Rahul had brought the state’s backward area on the map.“It is like carrying coal to Newcastle. Are they aware that during the recent governments, the allocations to UP have been unprecedentedly high and there were no Congress governments there. Surely, these were meant to be used for Bundelkhand also,” said Singhvi.“And it has certainly been the Congress and Rahul’s visits that have brought it on the map. So certainly, nobody can be more concerned than us,” he added.As for the BSP’s demand for the financial package, the AICC spokesperson said: “Certainly, if there are constructive suggestions, we will look at them, and wherever there is scope for improvement, we will do it. There is a finance commission to which all suggestions can be sent.”He noted that the government had started schemes for the welfare of backward areas, such as the Backward Area Development Fund that was meant specifically for regions like Bundelkhand.In a separate development, the Congress today sought to end the controversy over a party MP describing Rahul as a “yuvraj” in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. “The person who opposed him in the Rajya Sabha has totally distorted and conveyed a false impression. What was sought to be conveyed was simply the personality of the person who lies in the hearts of the people, who is liked by the masses,” said Singhvi.
