PM Modi accuses Cong of ignoring tribal community

Banswara (Rajasthan) [India], Nov 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an election rally here on Monday, accused the Congress of ignoring the tribal community. "The Congress party ignored the tribal community, who was demanding a separate ministry, minister and budget. But the Congress was never concerned," he said.
"Our tribal people used to demand development policies but in vain. It was only when Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji became the Prime Minister of the country, a dedicated ministry for tribal affairs was created," said Prime Minister Modi, who is on a whirlwind tour of Rajasthan, where the assembly election is scheduled to take place on December 7.
Stating that the tribal community made sacrifices during the freedom struggle and contributed to the nation-building immensely, the Prime Minister said that the history knew about this, but not the Congress.
"Tribal community has existed for thousands of years. Did they not make sacrifices during freedom struggle? Did they not contribute to the development of the nation? You know this. I know this. History knows this but the Congress doesn't know this. The Congress did not remember the tribal community," Prime Minister Modi said.
Taking a jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister said, "This 'Naamdar' (Rahul) does not have knowledge about the NCC. He doesn't know what a manifesto is. This 'Naamdar' does not know that he visited Kailash Mansarovar, but doesn't have any clue about it." "The Congress president does not even know the difference between 'moong' and 'chana' and yet he speaks about the welfare of farmers," he added.
"When Madam Sonia Gandhi's government was in power at the Centre, there were only four mobile manufacturing companies in India. Today, there are 125 units," Prime Minister Modi asserted. "The Congress makes promises in the run-up to the elections and forgets them once the polls are over," he added.
Earlier addressing a rally in Bhilwara, Prime Minister Modi, in a veiled attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his often taken holidays, said that while he gave an account of every decision and trip undertaken by him, there were leaders who went "missing" for a week.
"Did you ever hear that I took a holiday? Did you ever hear I went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week? I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do," he said.
Prime Minister also lauded Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's development initiatives, saying that under her leadership, water supply has improved in the desert state for the last five years.
The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on December 7. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. (ANI)