Nagpur: A political slugfest has begun over the horrific death of three tribal schoolchildren following snakebite at a Gadchiroli ashramshala. While Opposition has blamed the state govt for neglecting tribals, BJP-led Mahayuti has claimed that the school was run by a trust founded by former Congress MP Maratrao Kowase.A three-time legislator, Kowase also served as minister of state for tribal welfare in the 1990s, when Sharad Pawar was chief minister of Maharashtra.Congress MLA Nana Patole said CM Devendra Fadnavis, who is the guardian minister of Gadchiroli district, must take responsibility. “If you are unable to provide basic facilities, the lack of which is leading to incidents such as snakebites in a supposedly secure school environment, it reflects gross neglect. There must be accountability for the loss of lives,” Patole said.Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said the BJP was ruining tribal communities to facilitate corporate expansion. “Last year 1,500 tribals were killed in Gadchiroli in different circumstances. The death of these kids is a reminder of what value BJP places on tribal lives. People need to understand this and release snakes in these ruling party members’ homes, only then will they wake up,” said Raut.Mahayuti members, however, hit back, saying Congress must first check who runs the school. Co-guardian minister of Gadchiroli Ashish Jaiswal said, “I can confirm that this ashramshala belongs to Congress’ former MLA, former MP and former minister Kowase saheb. The same system has continued, where for years this ashramshala has existed only for people of the organisation to benefit from, only to draw grants year after year while leaving those children as they were. This will not be tolerated now.”Jaiswal, during a site inspection on Monday, said the ashramshala had been operating for over 25 years under the trust and had received crores of rupees in government funds during that period.
