Dahod, March 19 (NationPress) The Gujarat BJP president, Jagdish Vishwakarma, criticized the Congress party on Thursday for achieving a “zero” in terms of development, tribal welfare, and education during a booth workers' conference in Dahod, urging party members to enhance their outreach efforts ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

During his address, Vishwakarma remarked, “Congress signifies zero when it comes to development, zero for tribals, and zero in education,” accusing the opposition party of making false promises and spreading lies.

He further claimed that the Congress party has always opposed the education and advancement of individuals from rural and tribal backgrounds. “Congress only makes an appearance during elections. The citizens of this nation have turned away from Congress three times, and the people of Gujarat have been distancing themselves from it for 30 years,” he asserted.

The meeting, held for party workers in the Dahod Assembly constituency, was attended by numerous party officials and leaders.

Vishwakarma emphasized that the BJP's strength lies in its dedicated workers focused on service rather than power. He called upon them to spread the party’s “nationalist ideology” and government initiatives to every household as they prepare for the forthcoming local self-government elections.

Highlighting the significance of the tribal community, he stated, “The tribal population is the genuine custodian of water, land, and forests, acting as protectors of nature,” and acknowledged their historical contributions, including sacrifices made during the struggle for independence.

He also paid tribute to the legacy of tribal leaders and affirmed that their contributions would not be overlooked.

Vishwakarma praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for steering national politics towards development, moving away from vote-bank and caste-based considerations. “Within just 17 days of taking office, the Prime Minister made swift, significant decisions, including those concerning the Narmada dam, and the visible development across Gujarat’s cities and villages is a testament to such leadership,” he elaborated.

He noted that both the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel are prioritizing the development of tribal regions stretching from Ambaji to Umargam.

Discussing changes in Dahod, he stated that efforts are being made to create local employment opportunities instead of relying on labor migration.

Among the development plans, Vishwakarma mentioned a project to transform Dahod municipality into a smart city with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore and the establishment of a railway engine manufacturing facility with a capacity of 9,000 metric tonnes, which he claimed would provide jobs in the district and its vicinity.

He noted that engines produced in Dahod are currently operational across the nation.

Moreover, he referenced the expansion of educational infrastructure, highlighting initiatives such as medical colleges, Eklavya Model Schools, and tribal universities in Gujarat, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enabling students from tribal backgrounds to pursue careers as doctors and engineers.

“The state has raised the income eligibility cap for post-matric scholarships for Scheduled community students from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh,” he stated.

Contrasting the governance styles, Vishwakarma pointed out that while previously only a fraction of funds reached the intended beneficiaries, the current system ensures that financial aid is transferred directly into the beneficiaries' bank accounts.

“Numerous schemes aimed at enhancing tribal welfare are being implemented with a focus on transparency and improving living conditions,” he added.

In his speech, he reiterated his critiques of the Congress party, referencing past corruption scandals, “Congress symbolizes broken promises and deceit, along with various scams like the Commonwealth Games scam, the 2G spectrum scam, the coal block allocation scam, and the Adarsh housing scam. India is under safe governance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he asserted.

Vishwakarma also encouraged party workers to bolster grassroots engagement, ensuring that beneficiaries receive the advantages of government schemes while striving for electoral success in the upcoming local elections.

Earlier that day, he held a meeting with district office-bearers at the BJP office in Dahod, where he interacted with workers and assessed organizational readiness.