Vadodara: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited Vadodara on Monday, where he attended the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan held at the Vadodara Municipal Corporation Auditorium near Ajwa Chowkdi.

Upon his arrival at the airport, Gandhi was received by senior Congress leaders, including Gujarat Congress in-charge Mukul Wasnik, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda, and Congress Legislative Party leader Tushar Chaudhary.

During the conference, Gandhi was welcomed with a traditional tribal dance performance and interacted with tribal artists before addressing the gathering.

Addressing the conference, Gandhi said the word “Adivasi” carries deep historical meaning, as tribals are the original inhabitants of the country and were the traditional owners of land, forests, and water. He said that over time, these resources were taken away and attempts are now being made to change their identity by using terms such as “Vanvasi,” which, he alleged, weakens their historical rights.

He said the country owes a debt to the tribal community as their land, forests, and water have been taken away in the name of development. Referring to tribal leader Birsa Munda, Gandhi said that denying tribal rights is an attack on the ideals he stood for. He alleged that tribal land is often acquired for projects and monuments without proper compensation.

Gandhi also stressed the need for a caste census to understand the country’s social structure. He said tribals make up around 9–10 percent of the population, Dalits about 15 percent, Other Backward Classes nearly 50 percent, and minorities around 15 percent. He criticised privatisation policies, saying reservations in the government sector helped backward communities, while representation in the private sector remains low.

Raising concerns over economic inequality, Gandhi said representation of tribals, backward classes, and minorities is limited in the country’s top companies. He alleged that large industrialists get loan waivers easily while common citizens do not receive similar relief. He also questioned the GST system, saying the tax burden falls equally on common people and big businesses despite wide income disparity.

Gandhi further expressed concern over economic and foreign policy decisions, alleging that important decisions are being influenced from outside the country. He said data is the most valuable asset in the 21st century and control over it will shape the future. He also criticised the government’s policies on agriculture, trade, and the economy.

Addressing the gathering, GPCC president Amit Chavda alleged that the tribal community in Gujarat has faced injustice for the past three decades under BJP rule. He said many families are yet to receive benefits under the Forest Rights Act and that land is being acquired in the name of development. He also alleged irregularities in schemes such as MGNREGA and Nal Se Jal, and raised concerns over education and healthcare facilities in tribal areas.

Chavda said the party will organise fresh yatras from Ambaji to Umargam to reach tribal communities and raise their issues.

Senior Congress leaders, including Mukul Wasnik, Amit Chavda, Tushar Chaudhary, All India Tribal Congress president Vikrant Bhuria, and other party leaders, were present at the conference. DeshGujarat