In a bid to reach out to the tribal community in Gujarat ahead of the Assembly polls due this year, the state Congress today launched 'Navsarjan Adivasi Adhikar Abhiyan' from tribal dominated Khedbrahma town of Arvalli district in north Gujarat today.
Senior Congress leaders, including party's state unit chief Bharatsinh Solanki, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela and AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry addressed tribals at Khedbrahma after visiting the Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district.
These leaders raised various issues concerning tribals and accused the BJP dispensation of ignoring the plight of the community. They also accused the ruling party of failing to implement various schemes, such as RTE, launched by the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre, a release said.
This month, Congress will organise similar public rallies in various tribal-dominated districts across Gujarat, such as Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Narmada and Navsari.
During his address today, Solanki reminded tribals about the death of two tribals in an alleged police firing some time back in Sabarkantha district. He also hailed the contribution of tribals in India's freedom struggle.
Accusing the ruling BJP of curtailing budget allocations meant for tribal areas, Solanki promised to set up economic zones to provide employment to youths from the community if Congress came to power.
Vaghela said time has come to uproot this government. He also slammed the BJP-led central government on the issue of price rise and unemployment, said the release.
Congress is out of power in Gujarat since 1995. Out of total 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, tribal votes decide the fate of around 33 seats in 15 tribal dominated districts.
In February this year, Gujarat BJP had also organised a 1,450 km long 'Adivasi Vikas Gaurav Yatra', which had covered these 15 tribal dominated districts of the eastern part of state.
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