Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav gave his much-discussed PDA formula a fresh twist at a press conference in Lucknow on Wednesday. This time he linked the formula's 'A' to the tribal community. What makes it interesting is that he has earlier tied the same 'A' first to minorities and then to forward castes, and now it has been given a third meaning, tribals.
Yadav made the big announcement on the martyrdom day of Maharani Durgavati. He declared that if his party forms the government in 2027, a giant golden statue of Maharani Durgavati would be installed on the Gomti River Front.
A Long List of Promises for the Tribal Community
The SP chief said clearly that the 'A' in PDA now stands for tribal brothers. He assured that a census of the tribal community would be carried out and that they would be given their rights and respect in proportion to their population. According to Akhilesh, once a Samajwadi Party government is formed, every demand of the tribal community and the Gond community would be met, with officials reaching their homes to prepare their certificates.
He also said that a CBI inquiry would be ordered to deliver justice to the tribal community. Under the Forest Rights Act, tribal people would get their rights, and a free solar panel would be provided along with the Lohia Awas. Beyond that, Scheduled Tribes were promised reservation and employment.
Big Announcements on Education and a Dedicated Building
Akhilesh Yadav announced that a PDA building would be constructed for the Akhil Bharatiya Gaud Mahasabha, equipped with all amenities. On education, he promised free schooling from KG to PG, and said that if anyone needed to be sent abroad for studies, the Samajwadi Party would arrange it.
Who Was Maharani Durgavati
Maharani Durgavati was an exceptionally brave warrior queen of the Gondwana empire who took on the Mughal ruler Akbar. She was born on 5 October 1524 at the historic Kalinjar fort in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. She was the only child of Kirti Singh Chandel, the mighty king of the Chandel dynasty.
In 1542 she was married to Dalpat Shah, son of Sangram Shah, the king of the Gond dynasty. After Dalpat Shah's untimely death, the queen placed her young son Veer Narayan on the throne and took the reins of the Gondwana kingdom into her own hands. She gave Akbar's army a tough fight and never surrendered as long as she lived.
