The BJP has criticized the Congress party for claiming that 'tribes are not Hindu' and accused the Congress of rejecting broader concepts of Hinduism and trying to divide Hindus.

The chief of BJP's tribal wing, Vikas Markam, condemned the statement made by Minister Kawasi Lakhma, who claimed that 'tribals are not Hindus' and demanded a separate religious code for them.

Markam called the demand unfortunate and expressed his disappointment with Minister Lakhma's ideological decline. He believes that 'Lakhma's statement reflects a political compulsion to reject the legacy and tradition of his forefathers by worshiping and flattering the feet of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi'.

He has accused the Congress party of trying to 'divide Hindus' in Chhattisgarh. He claimed that Minister Kawasi Lakhma frequently promotes this agenda and that conversion activities have increased under the patronage of the incumbent Congress government in Bastar.

Markam also criticized the government and missionaries for recent attacks on tribes, citing incidents in Narayanpur and Tokapal.

He said that the tribals and other people have gradually woken up to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s ‘Divide Hindus’ strategy and he remains confident that the tribal civilisation and culture cannot be destroyed, nor can Hindus be divided.