Modi's policies anti-tribals: Gujarat Congress

Ahmedabad, Nov 5 (UNI) The Gujarat Congress today lambasted Chief Minister Narendra Modi's government for taking no action to give rights for forest land and produce of the forest to tribals and backward class farmers.

Mr Arjun Modhvadia, chief spokesperson, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), alleged here that Mr Modi's government has resorted to anti-tribals policies.

''The Chief Minister holds a weekly review meeting to allocate land to the industrialists, favoured by the state government, but he has not taken any step to give land to some 75,000 tribals and backward class farmers under Forest Rights Law-2006, passed by UPA government at the centre,'' he claimed.

Mr Modhvadia said the UPA government has passed a law to give rights of land and forest produce to the tribals and backward class farmers, who lived in forest areas, in 2006.

As per this law, around 75,000 tribals and farmers in the state are entitled for total 3.12 lakh acre land.

''The state government allots land to its favoured industrialists at a throwaway price, without resorting to any legal processes,'' he alleged.

Mr Modhvadia warned that if the government does not give the tribals and farmers their rights by December next, the Congress would launch an agitation.

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