Cong, BJP have treated tribals as vote bank: Sharad Yadav

Ratlam (MP), Nov 18: Gearing up to give the Ratlam Lok Sabha by-election its best shot, the Janata Dal (U) on Wednesday, Nov 18 slammed both the Congress and BJP for "exploiting" tribals, saying that the former has done no good to them while the latter wants to end reservation meant for their social and economic upliftment.

"BJP government in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh wants to end reservation aimed at the upliftment of Dalits and tribals, while Congress hasn't worked for tribesmen's welfare on the ground," JD(U) president Sharad Yadav told an election meeting here ahead of polls on this crucial tribal reserved seat on November 21.

He that the condition of tribals hasn't improved in the country and they have been exploited by both Congress and BJP. "Congress and BJP have treated the tribals as vote bank," Yadav said seeking support for his candidate Vijay Hari, who is contesting from the seat.

JD(U) has stitched an alliance with CPI, CPI (Marxist), a tribal political outfit - Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and Bahujan Sangharsh Dal, by fielding common candidate Hari to take on the Congress and BJP.

The marriage of these parties, minus Congress, is akin to the Grand Alliance of Bihar which swept the Assembly polls there recently.

Yadav said the by-elections are significant as an experiment like that of Grand Alliance, out of Bihar, is taking place across India.

"In Bihar, secularism triumphed," he said, adding that the Bihar Assembly polls result has sent a loud and clear message to people trying to divide the country of religious lines.

PTI