Launching another attack on the BJP, Congress president Sonia Gandhi here today accused the party of linking politics with the pursuit of power.Addressing a largely tribal crowd at a rally, which was virtually seen as a platform to highlight the ‘‘tribal agenda’’ of the Digvijay government, Sonia handed out cheques and announced concessions for tribals.Referring to the BJP, Sonia said: ‘‘They are devotees who remember God only at election time. When they behave with God in this manner, how will they behave with humans? Which is why the BJP does not hesitate to make promises that they cannot fulfill at the time of elections.’’ This, she added, was the essential difference between the two parties. The rest of her speech was taken up with listing the work done for tribals by the Digvijay government. This, in itself, was an indicator of a theme that the state has been particularly highlighting.The BJP has announced its own Dalit convention in Mhow later this month and the party has criticised the Congress government for trying to lump the problems of the tribals and the Dalits together in one basket.The announcements were concerned with redirecting the benefits of minor forest produce back to the tribals through the Van Samitis which have been set up in forest villages through the state. Sonia handed out Rs 37 crore which had accumulated over the last three years from the sale of bamboo. To woo the tribal vote, it was also announced that all minor offences under the Forest Act which were yet to go before the court will be taken back.
