The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise special programmes across the country on 15 November 2026 to mark the 151st birth anniversary of freedom fighter and tribal icon Birsa Munda, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, announced on Thursday, 12 November. Speaking at the state BJP headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru, Narayanaswamy said Munda's contributions to India's freedom struggle would be remembered and carried forward to the next generation.

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and BJP's Tribal Outreach

Narayanaswamy confirmed that the BJP's Scheduled Tribes (ST) Morcha has organised multiple commemorative programmes for the occasion. The party observes Birsa Munda's birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, celebrating the broader contributions of tribal communities across India.

'The BJP's ST Morcha has organised several programmes to commemorate his birth anniversary. We will also ensure that the history and contributions of Birsa Munda are made known to the younger generation,' Narayanaswamy said.

He noted that Munda belonged to an oppressed tribal community and that recognising such figures was central to the BJP's political identity. This is not an isolated event — the Centre has institutionalised 15 November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas since 2021, using it as an annual platform to highlight tribal welfare and heritage.

Attacks on Congress Over Tribal and Dalit Recognition

Narayanaswamy levelled sharp allegations against the Indian National Congress (Congress), claiming the party had historically projected the freedom struggle as though only its own members had sacrificed for independence — sidelining figures like Birsa Munda.

'The Congress has always considered only those associated with its party as freedom fighters. The BJP, on the other hand, honours everyone who worked and sacrificed their lives for the country, irrespective of caste or religion,' he said.

He also cited President Droupadi Murmu, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, as evidence of the BJP's commitment to representation, contrasting it with what he alleged was the Congress's consistent neglect of marginalised communities in constitutional positions.

Narayanaswamy further alleged that B.R. Ambedkar had not been awarded the Bharat Ratna during Congress rule, and that the Congress-led Karnataka government had not allocated a single Cabinet berth to a woman.

SC/ST Fund Diversion Allegations Against Karnataka Government

Responding to queries on the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), Narayanaswamy alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka had diverted funds earmarked for SC/ST communities towards its own guarantee schemes.

'The Congress government claims to have allocated ₹42,000 crore, but the money has not reached the beneficiaries. There has been no clarity on where the funds have gone,' he alleged. He added that Congress legislators from SC and ST communities had failed to hold the government accountable on this issue.

He also accused the state government of not acknowledging central grants to Karnataka, clarifying that the BJP was not opposed to such allocations but questioned whether the state was properly crediting the Centre's contributions.

PM-JANMAN and Tribal Infrastructure Push

Narayanaswamy highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) as a key central initiative to identify and address the needs of tribal communities living in remote and hilly areas without adequate facilities. He said the Centre had approved the establishment of schools in such regions and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiatives.

Also present at the press briefing were BJP ST Morcha State President Bangaru Hanumanthu and State General Secretaries Shivakumar and Raju Nayakar.

With 15 November now a fixture on the BJP's political calendar, the party appears set to deepen its tribal outreach ahead of future electoral contests in states with significant Scheduled Tribe populations.