Congress has done nothing except hold photo sessions with tribals: BJP

Asserting that the Congress-led UPA Government is responsible for the poor condition of tribals, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday criticised party vice president Rahul Gandhi, and said the Congress has done nothing except holding photo sessions with Adivasis.

"The Congress Government is responsible for the poor condition of the tribals. Except for holding photo sessions with the tribals, the Congress Government hasn't done anything else. They never cared about the tribals. Under the BJP's rule, the conditions of the tribals were better," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain

"In Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, we were able to bring tribals to the mainstream. We don't have to learn anything from Rahul Gandhi," he added.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi reached out to tribals in Madhya Pradesh, and said the level of hunger in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh is more than in Africa.

Gandhi said there could be no development when there is hunger.

"People think that if they build infrastructure, they can fill stomachs. UNICEF report says there are more hungry people in Madhya Pradesh than in Africa," he added, while addressing a Congress rally here.

Gandhi asked the crowd whether the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP Government has respected Adivasis and women.

"Some people say the government should work this way or that way. But for me, the most important thing is respect for the people. Has the BJP Government, which has been ruling for 10 years here, respected the tribals? Has it respected women?" Gandhi asked.

"If Congress comes to power, tribals will get respect and if someone disrespects them, we'll deal with them. The BJP made efforts to block the food security bill for years and we fought for it. They build roads, swanky cars travel on those roads and that is what they call development. When Congress gains power, no matter who the chief minister is, tribal and women will be respected in Madhya Pradesh and there will be no hunger," he added.