Rahul promises implementation of tribal rights bill in poll-bound states

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the BJP of giving a raw deal to tribal communities, farmers, Dalits and women while helping the rich.

He promised to implement the tribal rights bill in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

The Congress president was speaking at a rally of tribals and farmers organised by the Adivasi Ekta Parishad in Morena in Madhya Pradesh.

"Whenever the poor, tribals, farmers, Dalits and women came forward to seek land, forest rights and water, they were told the government does not have anything for them, but when the same was demanded by powerful rich persons, the present regime provides them land, mines and minerals readily," Gandhi said.

Talking about the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, he said, "The tribal bill is not a gift, but right of the tribal people. The tribal people must have their rights over land, water and forests."