PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi step up Gujarat campaign, woo tribals

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 21

Less than 10 days to go for the first phase of the Assembly elections on December 1, political parties ramped up campaign today, with the three major players — ruling BJP, opposition Congress and new entrant AAP — holding multiple rallies in poll-bound Gujarat.

Top leaders from the BJP and Congress wooed voters, especially tribals, accusing each other of ignoring the community.

While PM Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Surendranagar, Jambusar, and Navsari, Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, taking a break from his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, held his first rallies in the state in Mahuva and Rajkot.

PM ridicules cong over adivasis

Tribals did so many things for this country. But Congress leaders never knew that Adivasis exist. Narendra Modi, PM

First owners of country

They call you 'vanvasi'. They do not say you are the first owners of India, but instead say that you live in jungles. Rahul Gandhi, Cong leader

Calling tribals the “first owners” of the country, Rahul accused the BJP of taking away their rights. “They call you ‘vanvasi’. They do not say you are the first owners of India, but instead say that you live in jungles. Do you see the difference? It means they do not want you to live in cities, they do not want your children to become engineers, doctors, learn to fly planes, speak English,” Rahul said. In Rajkot, he took on the ruling BJP on the Morbi bridge tragedy, claiming while watchmen (posted at the accident site) were arrested and jailed, no action was taken against the “real culprits”.

“When journalists asked me what I thought about the Morbi tragedy, I said around 150 persons died…it is not a political issue I would say nothing about this. But the question arises today as to why no action was taken against those who were behind this (tragedy). Why no FIR has been registered against them?” he said.

“Will nothing happen to them because they share a good relationship with the BJP?” said the Congress leader.

He also accused the BJP of creating “two Indias”— one of the billionaires who can do whatever they dream of and the other of the poor, struggling to live amid inflation and joblessness.

PM Modi, in turn, accused the Congress of remaining “oblivious to tribals for a very long time”. Speaking in Jambusar in tribal-dominated Bharuch district, he accused party leaders of mocking him for wearing traditional tribal attire at public functions.

“For a very long time, Congress leaders remained unaware of the existence of tribals in India. Weren't they living here since the days of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna? Were they not a part of the 1857 mutiny? Tribals did so many things for this country. But Congress leaders never knew that Adivasis exist,” the PM said.

Meanwhile, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal held a roadshow in Amreli, where he promised zero electricity bill for all citizens if his party is voted to power. Kejriwal, who has been greeted with slogans supporting the PM in many places, has also been telling people that “he is the one who will build schools for their children and provide free electricity. AAP will one day win the hearts of those raising pro-Modi slogans.”

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