The Crossbill News Desk
Addressing a gathering focused on tribal rights in Gujarat, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique of the ideological framing and policy approach of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly over their use of terminology for tribal communities and its implications.
Speaking at the ‘Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan’ in Vadodara on Monday (March 23), Gandhi argued that the term ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers), often used by the RSS and BJP, undermines the historical identity and rights of tribal communities, The Hindu reported.
He contrasted it with ‘Adivasi’, which he said recognises them as the original inhabitants of the land.
“The term ‘vanvasi’ implies you are not the original owners of this land, whereas ‘Adivasi’ recognises your rights over water, forests and land. If you had come here thousands of years ago, every inch of land would have been with Adivasis,” said Gandhi.
He further alleged that such terminology has broader consequences for constitutional protections.
“When tribals are called ‘vanvasi’ and their resources are handed over, it is an attack on the Constitution,” he added.
Gandhi also targeted the BJP-led Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of failing to safeguard the rights of tribal communities. He claimed that development policies often result in the displacement of Adivasis without adequate compensation.
“When development is discussed, Adivasi land is taken away, often without compensation, as you are considered to have no rights. Whenever the subject of development comes up, land belonging to Adivasis is snatched, often without paying compensation as ‘you are deemed to possess no rights, no entitlements whatsoever,” he said.
Turning to economic policy, Gandhi criticised the opening up of the agricultural sector, warning of its impact on Indian farmers.
“No Prime Minister has opened up agriculture before. If products from large, mechanised farms in the US enter our markets, it will affect Indian farmers. There is a reason for this. Our farms are small, ranging from five to 10 acres. In the US, farms span 1,000, 5,000, or even 10,000 acres. Here, people work manually, and mechanisation is limited; over there, everything is fully mechanised. If their produce floods our markets, it will completely ruin our farmers,” said Gandhi.
He also raised concerns over trade policies and their impact on domestic industries.
“If we purchase goods worth Rs 9 lakh crore from U.S. companies, what will become of our own companies? What will happen to our SMEs (small and medium enterprises)? They have reduced taxes for US products to zero, while simultaneously increasing taxes on our domestic products,” he added.
Reiterating his demand for a caste census, Gandhi said it would provide clarity on the distribution of power and resources among communities.
“A caste census will show the actual population of Adivasis and their share in power and wealth,” he said.
He further called for greater representation of tribal communities in key institutions such as the bureaucracy, police, and judiciary, pointing to disparities in representation.
“Do you believe Adivasis have even a 10% share in the country? Until your people are part of the bureaucracy, police and judiciary, your interests will not be protected,” said Gandhi, alleging that the RSS was influencing these institutions.
The remarks come amid ongoing political debates over tribal rights, representation, and economic policies, with Gandhi framing the issue as central to constitutional guarantees and social justice in the country.
Speaking at the ‘Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan’ in Vadodara on Monday (March 23), Gandhi argued that the term ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers), often used by the RSS and BJP, undermines the historical identity and rights of tribal communities, The Hindu reported.
He contrasted it with ‘Adivasi’, which he said recognises them as the original inhabitants of the land.
“The term ‘vanvasi’ implies you are not the original owners of this land, whereas ‘Adivasi’ recognises your rights over water, forests and land. If you had come here thousands of years ago, every inch of land would have been with Adivasis,” said Gandhi.
He further alleged that such terminology has broader consequences for constitutional protections.
“When tribals are called ‘vanvasi’ and their resources are handed over, it is an attack on the Constitution,” he added.
Gandhi also targeted the BJP-led Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of failing to safeguard the rights of tribal communities. He claimed that development policies often result in the displacement of Adivasis without adequate compensation.
“When development is discussed, Adivasi land is taken away, often without compensation, as you are considered to have no rights. Whenever the subject of development comes up, land belonging to Adivasis is snatched, often without paying compensation as ‘you are deemed to possess no rights, no entitlements whatsoever,” he said.
Turning to economic policy, Gandhi criticised the opening up of the agricultural sector, warning of its impact on Indian farmers.
“No Prime Minister has opened up agriculture before. If products from large, mechanised farms in the US enter our markets, it will affect Indian farmers. There is a reason for this. Our farms are small, ranging from five to 10 acres. In the US, farms span 1,000, 5,000, or even 10,000 acres. Here, people work manually, and mechanisation is limited; over there, everything is fully mechanised. If their produce floods our markets, it will completely ruin our farmers,” said Gandhi.
He also raised concerns over trade policies and their impact on domestic industries.
“If we purchase goods worth Rs 9 lakh crore from U.S. companies, what will become of our own companies? What will happen to our SMEs (small and medium enterprises)? They have reduced taxes for US products to zero, while simultaneously increasing taxes on our domestic products,” he added.
Reiterating his demand for a caste census, Gandhi said it would provide clarity on the distribution of power and resources among communities.
“A caste census will show the actual population of Adivasis and their share in power and wealth,” he said.
He further called for greater representation of tribal communities in key institutions such as the bureaucracy, police, and judiciary, pointing to disparities in representation.
“Do you believe Adivasis have even a 10% share in the country? Until your people are part of the bureaucracy, police and judiciary, your interests will not be protected,” said Gandhi, alleging that the RSS was influencing these institutions.
The remarks come amid ongoing political debates over tribal rights, representation, and economic policies, with Gandhi framing the issue as central to constitutional guarantees and social justice in the country.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment