Forest rights of tribals: Rahul targets Modi govt in Chhattisgarh

Pitching for forest rights of tribals, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Centre and the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, accusing them of working "just for two-three industrialists" and not passing on the benefits of development to locals.

Raking up the issue of land acquisition in the mining belt of Korba, he questioned the development model of PM Narendra Modi, alleging that tribals do not stand to benefit from it and sought to corner the ruling BJP over issues such as displacement due to coal mining and compensation against land acquisition.

Gandhi promised tribals that he would stand by them as he stood by farmers and also took a dig at media for not giving importance to tribal issues. "Modiji gives many lectures on development. Development should <g data-gr-id="23">happen</g> but my question is that what partake do tribals have in that process...development should be for all. It should not happen for just two-three industrialists.

"It should not be a scene that their industries come up, they make thousands of crores in profit <g data-gr-id="21">and on the other hand</g> the tribal children have no future... We do not want such a future for tribals of India," Gandhi said.

He alleged, "Be it the government running in Delhi or in Chhattisgarh, the entire government machinery is running for the promotion of two-three industrialists." Referring to NDA's ordinance on land, Gandhi said sarcastically, "Modiji said that development is needed. So there is no need to ask anybody."