MUMBAI, Aug 25: The BJP on Tuesday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his concerns about tribal students in Maharashtra, asking him to first review the functioning of tribal welfare departments and hostels in Congress-ruled Telangana and Karnataka.
Gandhi had written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to address the grievances of tribal students who have been on hunger strike for the past 10 days over an age limit and alleged “humiliating rules” in state-run hostels.
The BJP accused Gandhi of raising issues selectively and alleged that he was attempting to shield Congress leaders associated with tribal schools in Maharashtra.
In a post on X, the Maharashtra BJP said Gandhi should first examine tribal welfare facilities in states where his party is in power.
The party also alleged that some tribal schools in Maharashtra facing protests are run by Congress leaders.
The BJP referred to the deaths of three young girls at a school whose director, it claimed, is former Congress MP Marotrao Kowase. It also alleged that his son, Vishwajeet Kowase, serves as Gadchiroli District Congress Committee president and secretary of the school.
The BJP further cited an inspection of an ashram school in Yavatmal, where it alleged that girls’ bathrooms did not have doors. The school, according to the BJP, is run by former minister and Congress leader Vasant Purke.
The ruling party accused Congress leaders of mismanaging institutions meant for tribal communities and said attempts to prevent action against those responsible would not succeed.
Gandhi had earlier urged Fadnavis to personally meet the protesting students and resolve their grievances at the earliest. He raised concerns over the 30-year age limit for staying in government hostels, alleged unsafe facilities and other rules he described as humiliating and inhuman.
“During the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune, female students shared that hostels enforce an unnecessary age limit of 30 years, humiliating rules, unsafe facilities, and inhuman provisions such as pregnancy checks for women,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
He said students from remote villages and towns were demanding their “rightful entitlements” and urged the Maharashtra Government to address their concerns promptly.
