Gulam Ali Khatana Critiques Congress for Tribal Exploitation
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New Delhi, March 31 (NationPress) BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana vehemently criticized the Congress party on Tuesday, accusing it of manipulating and fragmenting the tribal community across the nation.
Khatana's comments came just a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah proclaimed during a debate on Naxalism in the Lok Sabha that India is nearly free of Naxal threats, with the notorious Maoist leadership at both central and state levels nearly eradicated ahead of the government's self-declared deadline of March 31, 2026.
In an interview with IANS, Khatana stated, “The Congress has taken advantage of the vulnerable tribal population and has caused divisions among them. They consistently worsen people's suffering and have failed to meet their fundamental needs—be it food, healthcare, education, infrastructure, or access to clean water.”
The BJP representative praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for their significant roles in eliminating Naxalism from numerous districts in the country.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah has effectively curtailed Naxalism to just 1-2 districts. This achievement stems from a strong ideological commitment,” he asserted.
Khatana further accused the Congress of being indecisive and lacking conviction.
He highlighted the initiatives taken by the BJP to aid surrendered Maoists, asserting, “Every BJP worker dedicates their efforts to the nation's welfare around the clock. During the Congress era, there were no programs encouraging Naxals to surrender. We have engaged with them and facilitated their rehabilitation. They are citizens of this country, but the Congress merely incited them without providing any support.”
Meanwhile, during his speech in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Shah detailed the extensive successes achieved through the Modi government's strict stance against Naxalism.
He explained that the leadership of the Maoists' central committee has either been neutralized or persuaded to surrender. Out of the top leaders, 12 have been killed, and only one remains on the run, with negotiations for his surrender ongoing. The situation within state committees is similarly definitive.
In one key affected state, the main 27-member state committee has been dismantled, with 11 members killed and discussions initiated with two others.
Shah also criticized previous administrations for neglecting tribal regions for years, creating a void that allowed Maoists to mislead innocent tribal individuals with false claims of fighting for justice.