Cong to woo tribals through Jangal Satyagraha

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will launch a statewide Jangal Satyagraha here on Friday as part of the party's outreach to the tribal community in the poll-bound state.

He will also inaugurate the newly constructed Congress State office, 'Rajiv Bhawan' here.

Chhattisgarh Tribal Congress president and Sitapur MLA Amarjeet Singh Bhagat, told DH, that Tribal Congress office bearers and leaders from all the districts have been called to capital Raipur for the launch of the movement at the community hall near the new party office.

“The month-long movement would be marked by meetings at village to block level where the tribal communities would be briefed on their constitutional rights, PESA Act, Forest Rights, Forest Land title rights, among other core issues related to the tribal communities. During this drive, those without Forest Land title rights would be initiated into the process. The Congress will confer Forest Land title rights on tribals if voted to power,” said Bhagat.

Cong forte

Tribal voters have been the forte of Congress for more than 60 years, mainly in undivided Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. But only after BJP came to power, the tribals have seen at least minimum development, besides government schemes like PDS coming to their areas. Their dark lives have been brightened through solar power even in the most remote villages.

In Bastar division, the conflict between the Naxals and Police personnel had been keeping the tribal on tenterhooks. Bastar division is also seen as key to form a government with regard to seats, due to which Congress, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), BJP and CPI (M), which have a better presence, are putting in maximum efforts to woo the tribal population.