New Delhi: Political controversy has intensified over Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi’s absence at the memorial ceremony held in the Parliament complex commemorating the 141st birth anniversary of freedom fighter and legendary tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The BJP has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership for not participating, alleging that this reflects Congress’s true attitude towards the tribal community. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has vocally accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership, asserting that Congress leaders’ withdrawal from a ceremony honoring Birsa Munda—who fought for India’s independence and tribal rights—is not coincidental, but a manifestation of the party’s disregard for the tribal community.
Birsa Munda’s birthday, November 15, is observed nationwide as 'Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas' or Tribal Pride Day to commemorate the history, culture, and contributions of the tribal community in the independence struggle. The special ceremony organized in the Parliament complex provided an opportunity for the country’s prominent political leaders to pay tribute to Birsa Munda. However, Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the event has become a focal point of BJP’s political criticism.
BJP alleges that Rahul Gandhi’s non-participation in a ceremony honoring Birsa Munda—the symbol of tribal pride and valor—amounts to disrespect toward the tribal community. Despite Congress’s continuous rhetoric on constitutional values and social justice, Pradeep Bhandari criticized the party’s unwillingness to honor their great tribal leader on such a significant day. He charged that the Congress leadership lacks genuine respect for the tribal and forest-dwelling communities.
Calling the Congress leadership’s absence at this nationally significant event proof of their mindset, Bhandari said their public assertions about protecting tribal rights ring hollow when they refuse to attend ceremonies connected to the community’s pride. He labeled this conduct political duplicity and argued Rahul Gandhi’s absence cannot be regarded as an individual decision but is part of the overall stance of the Congress leadership.
Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s political priorities, Bhandari alleged that while Rahul Gandhi finds time for meetings with individuals linked to foreign agendas, he did not have time to attend the ceremony honoring Birsa Munda, a national symbol of tribal pride. He emphasized that all political parties bear the responsibility of honoring tribal leaders who played crucial roles in the country’s freedom struggle and urged that such events symbolizing national unity and social respect be viewed beyond political differences.
Bhandari also criticized former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, linking her past remarks about President Draupadi Murmu—a tribal woman holding India’s highest constitutional office—with the Congress leadership’s controversial approach toward tribal representation. He argued that the history of strained relations between the Congress leadership and the tribal community’s highest dignitaries underpins the present incident.
Extending the critique to the Gandhi-Vadra family, Bhandari accused the Congress leadership of prioritizing family politics and nepotism over the pride of the tribal community. He also alleged that besides Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leaders were advised to boycott the ceremony, which, if accurate, necessitates a clear explanation from the party leadership for their collective absence from the nationally significant event.
Further criticizing the Congress, Bhandari highlighted the party’s inconsistency in advocating constitutional protection and social justice publicly, yet distancing itself from ceremonies honoring constitutional architect Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. He urged Congress to demonstrate an equal commitment to honoring historical icons of socially backward communities, asserting that such incidents expose the Congress leadership’s narrow approach toward the tribal community.
Born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu (modern-day Jharkhand), Birsa Munda led a vigorous struggle against British colonial rule and exploitative systems that dispossessed tribal people of land and livelihoods. He was a principal leader of the tribal uprising known as 'Ulgulan'. His leadership arose against the backdrop of British land policies, exploitation, and the crisis imposed on tribal traditional lifestyles. Birsa Munda, revered by followers as 'Dharti Aab' (Father of the Land), died in British custody at the age of 25 on June 9, 1900. His life and ideals remain potent symbols of the fight for tribal rights.
Since 2021, the Union government has commemorated November 15 as Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas to honor Birsa Munda’s legacy and the historical contributions of the tribal community. This year’s political exchanges surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s absence at the birth anniversary event have escalated tensions, with BJP weaponizing the absence against Congress and accusing the party of ignoring tribal pride.
The controversy has thus opened a fresh political confrontation between Congress and BJP. The explanations from Congress regarding the reasons behind Rahul Gandhi’s absence and responses to BJP’s allegations remain pivotal in this ongoing debate.
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Original Malayalam report: Malayalam Daily News
