Double Engine Govt Means Double Whammy for Tribals, Say Activists from MP, Chhattisgarh, and Assam

Ranchi- "One engine strips us of our land, the other destroys our culture" - this powerful indictment of BJP's double engine governance came from tribal activists who gathered at Ranchi Press Club recently. In a revealing press conference organized by Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, tribal leaders from three BJP-ruled states painted a grim picture of systematic oppression and marginalization of tribal communities.

Assam's Tea Garden Workers: Exploited and Unrecognized

"Even after 75 years of independence, we're paid slave wages," said Emanuel Purti from All Adivasi Students Association, describing the plight of millions of Jharkhand tribals in Assam.

"Tea garden workers earn a mere Rs 150-225 daily, far below minimum wage. We're denied ST status, land rights, and even basic dignity," he revealed, pointing out the irony of Himanta Biswa Sarma's tribal outreach in Jharkhand while neglecting tribals in his own state.

"Unlike Jharkhand's protective CNT-SPT law, we have no safeguards. Our language is dying, our culture is fading, and our rights over jal, jungle, zameen (water, forest, land) are non-existent under this double engine government," Purti added.

MP's Tribal Communities: Dignity Under Attack

Radheshyam Kakodia from Madhya Pradesh shared disturbing accounts of tribal persecution. "When an upper-caste person urinated on a tribal, the administration looked away. That's the reality of BJP's 'sabka saath' in MP," he stated. "The double engine government's both engines work to crush tribal rights - one displaces us for corporate projects, the other erases our cultural identity."

"Our traditional systems are being dismantled, festivals are being suppressed, and mass displacement continues without proper compensation or rehabilitation," Kakodia emphasized.

Chhattisgarh's Forests: Corporate Plunder Unleashed

"The moment BJP formed government, bulldozers rolled into Hasdeo Aranya," reported Alok Shukla from Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan. "Nine lakh trees marked for destruction, fake documents replacing Gram Sabha consent, and security forces deployed to silence protests - this is double engine efficiency in serving corporate interests."

Shukla revealed a disturbing pattern: "Anyone opposing this loot is branded a Maoist. The double engine works perfectly here - one engine clears the forests, the other crushes dissent."

A Warning for Jharkhand

"We've seen what double engine destruction looks like," said Elina Horo from Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan. "While BJP spends crores on social media propaganda, real tribal issues - CNT-SPT law, Sarna Code, Khatiyan-based policies - are ignored."

Tara Rao, a social activist from Karnataka, joined other leaders in warning Jharkhand's voters about the dangers of double engine rule. "From Karnataka to Assam, the pattern is clear - double engine means double tragedy for tribals," she stated.

The Systematic Assault

The conference highlighted alarming patterns across BJP-ruled states:

• Denial of basic rights and fair wages

• Cultural erosion and physical atrocities

• Mass displacement without compensation

• Forest rights violations

• Corporate takeover of tribal resources

• Suppression of tribal autonomy

• False cases against activists

The press conference concluded with a powerful message: "Double engine has meant double destruction for tribal communities. Jharkhand must choose between Abua Raj (self-rule) and bulldozer raj." The activists emphasized that protecting tribal rights is crucial not just for tribal communities but for India's democratic fabric itself.

The Election Commission's silence on these issues was also criticized, with leaders noting how BJP's massive social media campaigns spread communal hatred while real tribal concerns remain unaddressed. They warned that the "double engine" model has consistently worked against tribal interests, leading to their systematic marginalization across states.