Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of erasing forest land ownership records in tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, calling it a new weapon to suppress Bahujans.
BY PC Bureau
August 14 – Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP of orchestrating a systematic campaign to rob tribals of their land and constitutional rights through the deliberate disappearance of forest land ownership records.
In a sharp attack posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi coined the slogan “Kagaz mitao, adhikaar churao” – Erase papers, steal rights – alleging that the ruling party is manipulating official records and voter rolls to disenfranchise Dalits, OBCs, and particularly Adivasis.
“First, they delete Dalits and Backward Classes from voter lists; now they are making Adivasis’ forest rights pattas vanish from government records,” Gandhi wrote, calling the trend “a new weapon for suppressing Bahujans.”
Thousands of Land Titles Missing
Quoting a repot from The Hindu, Gandhi said the problem is most acute in tribal-dominated districts:
- Bastar: Records of 2,788 forest rights titles have reportedly disappeared.
- Rajnandgaon: More than half of all recorded pattas are said to be missing.
These pattas, issued under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, legally recognize tribal families’ claims over ancestral land and community resources. Their disappearance effectively strips Adivasi communities of legal proof to their land—making them vulnerable to eviction and loss of livelihood.
READ:
“काग़ज़ मिटाओ, अधिकार चुराओ” – बहुजनों के दमन के लिए भाजपा ने यह नया हथियार बना लिया है।
कहीं वोटर लिस्ट से दलितों, पिछड़ों के नाम कटा देते हैं, तो कहीं आदिवासियों के वन अधिकार पट्टों को ही ‘गायब’ करवा देते हैं।
बस्तर में 2,788 और राजनांदगांव में आधे से ज़्यादा – छत्तीसगढ़ में… pic.twitter.com/XzsGiGlsRc
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2025
A Legacy at Risk
The FRA, passed by the Congress-led UPA government, was intended to correct colonial-era injustices by returning land, forest, and water rights to indigenous peoples. Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of deliberately weakening this legal protection to benefit private interests.
READ: Big Blow to EC: SC Orders It to Publish 65 lakh Deleted Bihar Voters’ Names, Reasons
“Adivasis are the first owners of this country’s land. We will protect their rights at all costs,” he declared.
Pattern of Dispossession
Local activists and rights groups say the vanishing land records follow a familiar pattern:
- Erasure from Government Files – Digital and paper records of pattas are marked as “missing” or “in dispute.”
- Mining and Industrial Interests – Once titles are absent, land becomes easier to transfer for mining leases or industrial projects.
- Weak Legal Recourse – Tribals without documented titles face long legal battles, during which many abandon claims.
Chhattisgarh, rich in coal, bauxite, and other minerals, has seen repeated land acquisition conflicts in Bastar, Rajnandgaon, and Hasdeo Aranya. Tribals allege that state machinery often sides with corporate bidders rather than protecting indigenous rights.
The allegations come ahead of key political contests in Chhattisgarh, where Adivasi voters form a decisive bloc. The BJP has yet to respond to Gandhi’s specific charges, but party leaders in the state have previously defended their record on tribal welfare, pointing to welfare schemes and infrastructure projects.
READ: rom Bihar, Rahul Gandhi to Kick Off Yatra Against ‘Vote Thieves’ on August 17
However, opposition leaders argue that development projects have too often come at the expense of displacing tribals from forests that are their primary source of food, fuel, and cultural identity.
Rahul Gandhi urged tribal communities, farmers, and youth to join a broader movement to protect voting rights and land rights, warning that “paperless” ownership paves the way for exploitation.
“This is not just about land—it’s about dignity, survival, and democracy itself,” he said.
