Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful address in Dediapada, Gujarat's Narmada district, on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, launching a sharp critique against the Congress party for what he described as decades of systematic neglect toward India's tribal communities.
Historical Neglect of Tribal Regions
Speaking on November 15, 2025, the Prime Minister outlined how tribal areas had suffered from multiple development deficits under previous Congress administrations. Malnutrition, poor health security, lack of educational opportunities, and absence of connectivity had become the defining characteristics of these regions during Congress rule, according to Modi.
The Prime Minister emphasized that these issues weren't recent developments but represented long-standing problems that had persisted for generations. He painted a picture of tribal communities being left to fend for themselves without adequate government support or developmental initiatives.
BJP's Commitment to Tribal Welfare
Modi asserted that tribal welfare has always been a top priority for the BJP, contrasting his party's approach with what he characterized as Congress indifference. He stated that the BJP government aimed to correct historical injustices and ensure that comprehensive development finally reached tribal societies across India.
The Prime Minister highlighted specific policy initiatives and development programs launched by his government specifically targeting tribal areas. He emphasized the government's commitment to addressing both immediate needs and long-term development requirements of tribal communities.
Creation of Tribal Affairs Ministry
One of the most significant points in Modi's speech was his recollection of how a separate Tribal Affairs Ministry was created for the first time when Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister. This institutional mechanism marked a historic step in focusing government attention specifically on tribal development issues.
However, Modi added that when Congress returned to power for the subsequent ten years, the party again neglected this ministry and tribal development overall. He suggested that the creation of the ministry under BJP leadership demonstrated his party's genuine commitment to tribal welfare, while Congress's subsequent handling showed their lack of serious intent.
The Prime Minister's speech on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas served to reinforce the BJP's positioning as the party truly concerned with tribal development while positioning the Congress as having abandoned tribal communities to their fate through decades of neglect and indifference.
