At a mega-gathering of Kol tribal people in Satna of Madhya Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah administered a pledge to the people attending the event that they will strive to form BJP government in the state again during the assembly elections to be held later in the year.
Shah highlighted the works for poor and tribal people done by Modi government at the Centre and Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state to emphasise why the BJP government should be reelected.
He said during the brief period when a Congress government was formed in the state, all the welfare works for tribal people were halted, but fortunately, the BJP formed the government again under Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and all works were restarted. Shah added that the ‘double engine’ government, led by PM Narendra Modi at Centre and Chouhan in the state, are committed to the welfare of the poor and therefore everyone should vow to reelect BJP and strengthen the hands of Modi.
The Kol tribe – the third biggest tribal section in MP— is one of the key voter bases in the crucial Vindhya region of the state. During the 2018 polls, maximum seats in Vindhya region were won by the BJP despite Congress getting an edge over it elsewhere in the state, indicating the support of the Kol tribal for the saffron party. The ruling party wants to ensure that the community continues to support it during the upcoming polls and therefore a special event was organised in presence of Shah, and CM Chouhan made a flurry of announcements to keep the community in good humour.
Apart from attending the ‘Kol Mahakumbh’, organised on the occasion of Mata Shabari Jayanti, Shah inaugurated the newly constructed government medical college in the city. He also laid the foundation stone for 70 development works worth Rs 507 crore and inaugurated 18 completed works worth Rs 26 crore.
At the Mahakumbh, Shah started his speech by saying he was happy that the Shivraj government in the state fulfilled all 14 promises for the welfare of tribals made during his (Shah’s) Jabalpur visit (in September 2021).
Listing the works of the Central government, he said it was Modi who made a woman born in a poor tribal family the president of India for the first time. He cited schemes for the poor like toilets for 10 crores people, PM Housing for three crore people, health insurance worth Rs 5 lakh, free Covid-19 vaccine, electricity and cooking gas for all, and free five kg ration to 80 crore people for the past 2.5 years.
Many announcements by CM
Speaking on the occasion, CM Chouhan said Modi and Shah have come to finish off terrorism, injustice, and corruption in the country. He said that under the leadership of Modi, Amit Shah created a new India.
The CM made a flurry of announcements, saying the ancient Kolgarhi (palace of erstwhile Kol rulers) in Rewa will be renovated at the cost of Rs 3.5 crore and a Mata Shabri statue will be set up there, land will be provided to all landless Kol community people, religious places of Kol community will be developed, youth of the community will be provided loan with the guarantee of the government; PG hostel will be set up in Rewa, and a girls’ hostel will be constructed in Satna to facilitate the preparation of competitive exams by the youth of the community.
