By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: A massive public meeting was organised in Dabri, Jobat Assembly constituency, under the banner of the District Congress Committee and Adivasi Vikas Parishad as part of the ongoing Adivasi Adhikar Yatra. The rally, held with the pledge to protect “Jal, Jungle, Zameen aur Samvidhan” (water, forest, land and Constitution), witnessed the participation of thousands of tribal men and women from across the region.
Prominent Congress leaders including Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jeetu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, AICC Co-incharge Sanjay Dutt, former Union Minister Kantilal Bhuria, National President of Tribal Congress Vikrant Bhuria, MLAs Hani Baghel, Rajan Mandloi, Saina Mahesh Patel, and Pratap Grewal were present on stage. Alirajpur District Congress President Mukesh Patel, former district chief Mahesh Patel, district in-charge Ramveer Sikarwar and Dhar District Congress President Swatantra Joshi also attended.
Addressing the gathering, State Congress President Jeetu Patwari launched a strong attack on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, saying that while he is visiting on the occasion of Adivasi Gaurav Diwas, he must answer why the land safeguarded for tribals under Indira Gandhi’s law has now been transferred to non-tribals.
Citing government figures, Patwari alleged that over the last six years, 1.2 lakh acres of tribal land had been taken away — with 10,000 hectares lost in Alirajpur, Dhar, and Jhabua districts alone, and 1.3 lakh hectares across the state under various schemes. He questioned why 1.25 lakh backlog posts remain vacant and demanded accountability for the Rs 1.2 lakh crore tribal welfare fund.
“The BJP government has betrayed the tribals and robbed them of their rights,” Patwari asserted. He promised that under a future Congress government, land wrongfully acquired from tribals by politicians or businessmen would be restored. He further announced assured minimum support prices: maize at Rs 2,500, soybean at Rs 6,000, wheat at Rs 3,100, and paddy at Rs 4,000 per quintal.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar criticised the BJP’s claims of doubling farmers’ income, stating that tribal farmers growing maize have been neglected. He accused the government of ignoring their plight and failing to procure maize at fair prices.
The Adivasi Adhikar Yatra drew widespread local support, with villagers expressing solidarity with the Congress’s resolve to protect tribal rights, resources, and constitutional values. The leaders vowed to continue their struggle against the anti-people policies of the BJP government and promised justice, development, and dignity for the tribal community in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
