AAP Alleges Gujarat Government Diverted ₹50 Crore Tribal Welfare Funds for VIP Events

Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat of ignoring Adivasi rights while spending crores on events linked to the Prime Minister. They argued that the same administration often tells poor families there is No Grant "ग्रांट नहीं है" when they seek basic support.

According to the party, grand stages are built in the name of Adivasi outreach, yet everyday realities stay harsh. Scholarships for children remain halted, support for serious illnesses like sickle cell is missing, and long pending anganwadi bills are unresolved. Leaders said this contrast exposes the government’s true priorities.

Adivasi welfare and event spending in Gujarat

The leaders cited official replies related to a Prime Minister’s programme in Gujarat. They said different expense heads together ran into many crores. Pandal arrangements alone cost ₹7 crore, while a dome structure took ₹3 crore. Stage construction used ₹5 crore, VIP tea and snacks consumed ₹2 crore, and buses hired for transporting people required ₹7 crore.

They contrasted this with funds given to Adivasi hostels. Anurag Dhanda said hostel residents receive only ₹2,100 for an entire month. This amount must cover food, electricity and all other daily needs. Leaders highlighted that officials enjoy food worth thousands in a single day, while Adivasi children struggle for basic expenses.

Dhanda added that programmes held in Adivasi areas create a big show but do not solve core issues. Student scholarships have been stopped for two years. Families facing sickle cell disease are reportedly refused help with the same phrase, "ग्रांट नहीं है". Anganwadi bills are stuck, and payments remain delayed for long periods.

Adivasi development, BJP government and VIP focus

Delhi state president Saurabh Bhardwaj called this model "दिखावटी विकास". Bhardwaj said malnutrition, lack of education facilities and weak health services dominate many Adivasi regions. Yet, according to Bhardwaj, the government prefers investing in domes, stages and VIP comforts instead of classrooms, nutrition schemes and clinics in these districts.

Bhardwaj further alleged that the ruling party wants Adivasi communities to remain limited to speeches and photographs. Real needs such as better schools, reliable health care and timely welfare payments are repeatedly ignored. Public money is, however, freely spent on unity marches and other VIP programmes, the leaders claimed.

Later, the leaders explained how these details reached them. They said the figures came from official information shared with Chaitar Vasava, the Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Dediapada in Gujarat. Vasava had asked a series of questions on expenditure and welfare in the assembly, prompting the disclosure from the administration.

The Aam Aadmi Party leaders stressed that their organisation does not treat Adivasi citizens as a mere vote bank. For the party, they said, real progress means Adivasi children receiving education, healthcare and dignity. They argued that the data from Dediapada highlights the government’s financial choices and has triggered debate across India.

AAP leaders said the controversy now reflects a broader public mood. People are weighing the shine of VIP events against the future of their children. The spending records are not just numbers, they argued, but a mirror of state priorities. Citizens, they claimed, are deciding whether they value glamour or secure opportunities for Adivasi youth.