Dimapur, Oct 6 (EMN): Union minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Sundershan Bhagat has reiterated BJP’s concern for the welfare of the North eastern states particularly the tribals and also asserted the secular colour of the party.
Addressing the party workers in Kohima on October 5, Bhagat said the BJP is concern for the welfare of the North eastern states particularly the tribals saying it was visible during the previous as well as present BJP governments in centre and states.
He pointed out that because of this concern for tribals, former BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee constituted the Tribal Ministry in 1999 and also the DONER Ministry in 2001. Under these ministries, he said a lot of efforts for the uplift of the tribal population comprising of 104 million all over India as well as in Northeast had been initiated and implemented through several schemes. Besides, he said the Prime Minister Modi has directed all union ministers to visit the Northeast states every 15 days on rotation basis to monitor the development process under process of implementation.
Highlighting that the BJP government is a peoples’ party and is genuinely determined to work for the uplift of the people all over the country, he referred to several schemes under implementation.
He said BJP government is also giving focus on tribal farmers, who cultivate mainly on subsistence farming, to enable them take up commercial farming and enhance their earnings.
He said special attention is also given for the development of villages for which several schemes had been initiated and implemented mainly through the local governments. He particularly mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) which is aimed at intra-connectivity with every village; Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to ensure that two crore houses built across the nation’s length and breadth to ensure the basic human rights of shelter; Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana scheme of opening Zero bank accounts to enable very citizen including students above 10 years with an insurance cover; and Beti Bachao Beti Padao scheme which aims to secure the girl child from the time of birth to adulthood.
Responding to criticisms that BJP is anti-Christian and anti-Naga, he said there was no truth behind all those malicious politically fuelled propaganda charges stating that BJP is a truly secular party which respects every religion, caste and tribe to bring about a harmonious cohesive society to build a strong nation. To substantiate his claims, he reminded that the Prime Minister Modi and the Union Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj have facilitated the rescue and release of an Indian Christian priest imprisoned in Yemen by religious fundamentalists for the last one and half years.
Besides, he said the government has left no stone unturned to address any genuine instances of religious and social atrocities anywhere in the country. Stating that such political propagandas concerning religions and castes only cause disharmonious society and derail peace and progress, he urged to focus on building the cities, villages, and towns for a better society for all citizens irrespective of religions, castes or tribes.
He also stated that the Naga issue has been under active dialogue for a lasting peace under various BJP governments of Atal Behari Vajpayee and Modi.
On the queries from party workers of not having received benefits from the government, he said benefits can be assured only if the party workers work hard to get party MLAs elected and thereby form the party government. He advised the party workers not to be disheartened but work steadily in realising those goals.
