Centre undermining rights of hill tribes: Former Mizoram Minister Zodintluanga

Zodintluanga. File
| Photo Credit: Photo Credit: X/@ZodintluangaR

GUWAHATI:

A Mizoram-based leader of the All India Adivasi Congress Committee (AIACC) has accused the Narendra Modi government of undermining the rights of the Adivasis and hill tribes, particularly in the country’s northeastern region.

Speaking at the State-level convention of the Tripura State Adivasi Committee in Dhalai district’s Ambassa on Sunday (January 5, 2025), Zodintluanga called for dismantling the “authoritarian grip” on the country to preserve the values that define democracy in India. A former Congress Minister, he is the national executive member of the AIACC.

Mr. Zodintluanga criticised the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre and said it failed to uphold the rights of the tribal communities and marginalised groups across India. “Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the spirit of democracy has been eroded. His authoritarian rule must end if we are to safeguard the values that our country was built upon,” he said.

He cited landmark initiatives such as the Forest Rights Act of 2006 as examples of the contributions of the Congress to the rights of tribal communities. He accused the Modi government of diluting and delaying the implementation of the Act while facilitating land acquisition in tribal areas, leading to the displacement of indigenous communities.

“The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has reversed the gains of the tribal communities, especially in areas like land rights, education, and political representation,” Mr. Zodintluanga said.

He also pointed to autonomous district councils in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland created during the Congress rule, designed to provide tribal communities with local governance structures that reflect their distinct identity.

“In stark contrast, the Modi government failed to address the growing unrest and instability in States such as Manipur, which is facing a war-like situation. The BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the State have neglected the situation in Manipur,” he said.

Mr. Zodintluanga criticised the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019, which grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. He warned that its implementation would have a detrimental impact on the demographics of the northeast, further marginalising indigenous communities.