PM Modi Hails Tribal Contribution to Freedom Struggle, Slams Congress for Neglecting It

PTI, DEDIAPADA (GUJARAT), NOV 15, 2025 :  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised the significant contribution of the tribal community to India's freedom struggle, accusing the Congress of ignoring their sacrifices during its 60 years of governance.

Speaking at a large gathering in Dediapada town in Gujarat's Narmada district to mark the birth anniversary of tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Modi said the contributions of tribal freedom fighters had been overlooked so that credit could be given to a "few families."

Before his speech, the prime minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for infrastructure and development projects worth over Rs 9,700 crore.

"Whenever the nation's honor, self-respect, and freedom were concerned, our tribal community stood at the forefront. Our freedom struggle is the greatest example of this," Modi stated. "Numerous freedom fighters emerged from the tribal community and carried forward the torch of freedom."

He cited prominent tribal freedom fighters such as Govind Guru, Rupsingh Nayak, and Motilal Tejawat from Gujarat, emphasizing that the tribal community’s role in the struggle for independence was often ignored.

"The Congress ignored the contributions of tribal communities so that they could give the credit for independence to a few families," Modi said. He added that due to this attitude, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a symbol of tribal pride, was largely forgotten before 2014.

Modi also claimed that despite the tribals' hardships—such as malnutrition, lack of healthcare, and poor connectivity—the Congress government did nothing to address their issues. "Tribal welfare has been the BJP's top priority, and we have resolved to end this injustice," he stated.

Modi further highlighted that it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who established a separate ministry for the tribal community at the Centre. He also praised the contributions of tribal athletes like Mary Kom, Dutee Chand, and Baichung Bhutia, and noted that new players from tribal areas are emerging in various competitions.

The PM stressed that his government is continuously working to discover and nurture new talent in tribal areas, and that over the past five years, the Union government has invested more than Rs 18,000 crore in building model tribal schools across the country.