Amit Shah blames congress for poverty, illiteracy among tribals

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused Congress of using tribal population as a vote bank and "doing thing" for ir welfare and said Modi government has changed ir lives through a series of development initiatives.

Inaugurating national tribal festival ''Ai Mahotsav" in New Delhi, Mr. Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been standing solidly behind tribal population like a "bror" and ensuring that y get benefits of government welfare schemes.

"In 70 years since Independence, tribals were used by Congress as vote bank. party did thing for welfare of tribals. Whenever BJP came to power, it initiated a series of development schemes for tribals," he said.

home minister said Union Tribal Affairs Ministry came into existence when BJP's Atal Bihar Vajpayee was prime minister and tribals are biggest beneficiaries of Modi government's welfare schemes for free houses, cooking gas supply, electricity connections.

"Congress gave tribals darkness, illiteracy, and poverty. In five years, Modi government has given tribals electricity, education, free houses, free gas," he said.

Amit Shah also blasted Congress for its claim that a particular section of people has first right over country's resources.

"If anyone has first right over India's resources, it is tribals and poor of country," he said.

home minister fondly remembered tribal icon, Birsa Munda, saying country can't forget his fight against British to give tribals ir rights. He also praised tribals for ir contribution to protection of forests and environment.

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