New Delhi: Veteran Janjati (tribal) leader from Chhattisgarh’s Basatr, Arvind Netam is all set to attend the prestigious ‘Karyakarta Vikas Varg Dwiteey Valedictory function’ at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters at Nagpur.
Netam a five-time parliamentarian from the Congress party has been invited as the chief guest at the prestigious valedictory ceremony of the Sangh Swayamsevaks.
Born in 1942, Netam was inducted in the cabinet of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1973. In his first stint as a Union Minister, Netam served as the Minister of State for Education and Social Welfare from for 4 years up to March 1977.
After the massive defeat of Congress party in general elections held after ‘emergency,’ Netam was elected to Lok Sabha from Kanker constituency in 1980. He continued to represent the consistency, registering victories in consecutive general elections held in the year 1984, 1989 and 1991.
He was inducted in the Union Cabinet for the second time in 1993 and appointed as a Minister of State for Agriculture under former Prime Minister P.V Narsimha Rao.
As a seasoned politician, Netam closely witnessed the economic liberalisation since its onset in 1991. He has been a vocal supporter of strict implementation of Panchayat (Extension to Schedule Areas) Act (PESA) 1996.
Netam announced severing of ties with the Congress party by joining Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) under Kanshiram in April 1997. His departure from the Congress arrived months after he was denied a ticket by the party in the general elections of 1996. Congress had however made Netam’s wife Chhabila Netam its candidate from Kanker constituency. A year later Netam who was serving as the general secretary of BSP tendered his resignation from the party, citing internal opposition within the state unit.
In later years, Netam also joined hands with PA Sangama, a nine-time parliamentarian and former CM of Meghalaya after the latter formed National People’s Party in 2013. He served as the state president of NPP before returning to Congress.
Months before the Chhattisgarh State Assembly Elections 2023, Netam in August tendered his resignation from the Congress Party, citing poor implementation and weakening of PESA Act under Congress government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. He stated that he was profoundly frustrated by how Janjati leaders were neglected by the party.
After severing ties with the Congress Party, Netam floated his own ‘Hamar Raj Party,’ a political wing of the Sarv Adivasi Samaj (an association of various tribal groups). The party contested on 50 out of the total 90 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly, denting damage to Congress in a number of constituencies, particularly those falling under the Kanker Lok Sabha seat.
Despite being in active politics for long, Netam has always maintained that he is a social worker first than a politician. The veteran leader from Bastar has always been a vocal supporter of tribal rights and has worked extensively for the upliftment of the community. He enjoyed a mass following within the Janjatis in Kanker and considered among the heavy weights of Janjati society in Chhattisgarh.
Netam on occasions has also raised concerns about the impact of economic liberisation on tribal dominated areas, citing poor implementation of acts like PESA and its treatment as mere formality by the bureaucrats. He also has raised serious concerns about conversion activities in tribal areas along talking extensively about corruption.
Netam organised a 100 kilometer foot-march with an aim to spread awareness about education, health, cleanliness and modern values among the locals Janjatis In 1976,. His march was not only symbolic but a pragmatic awareness campaign which emboldened the socio-economic consciousness in masses in Bastar.
Netam met with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and asked for the constitutional rights for Janjatis when Forest Conservation Act was proposed in the year 1980. His suggestions were partially accepted by the government.
He played an instrumental role in securing the hosting rights of 1982 Asian Games for which he visited Japan as part of the Bhartiya delegations. His visit strengthened Bharat’s bid to host the prestigious event.
Netam was a member of the welfare committees for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from May 1987 to April 1988. He also played an active role in the committee formed for organising centenary ceremonies of Dr Ambedkar.
In 1990, Netam appealed to the Janjati society to get unified to safeguard their constitutional rights when the tribal areas were gripped by Maoist-insurgency . He also opposed the Maoists and suggested the government to consolidate and train local youths as an alternative security unit.
He also played a pivotal role in introducing the PESA Act by taking the Janjati society in confidence with an aim to pave way for development. He always stood for the rights and protection of age-old culture and customary practices of tribal community. Netam has always been a vocal supporter of development in tribal areas if it comes without causing any alteration in Janjati culture
A vocal critique of BJP, Sangh
A longtime parliamentarian, Netam has been a vocal critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS. He often has highlighted his ideological differences with the Sangh and the BJP, particularly on the issues pertaining to the Janjati society.
Though, despite being on the ideologically opposite end, the tribal stalwart on occasions has praised the BJP and Sangh for their policies.
Netam in Novemeber 2023 lauded the choosing of tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai as state’s Chief Minister after the assembly elections of Chhattisgarh, stating that at the time of Congress we used to say that there should be a tribal CM. Recently, Netam also lauded the RSS for working extensively in the field of social work and promotion of Bhartiya culture and heritage.
Invitation at Karykartya Vikas Varg Dwiteey Valedictory function
Netam’s invitation at the Karykartya Vikas Varg Dwiteey Valedictory function at Nagpur has once again underscored Sangh’s inclusive approach.
कार्यकर्ता विकास वर्ग – द्वितीय
समापन समारोहदिनांक : गुरूवार, 5 जून, 2025
समय : सायं 6:30 बजे
स्थान : रेशिम बाग़, नागपुर
प्रमुख अतिथि : श्री अरविन्द जी नेताम (पूर्व केन्द्रीय मन्त्री, भारत सरकार
उद्बोधन : डा. मोहनजी भागवत, प.पू. सरसंघचालक, रा.स्व. संघ pic.twitter.com/S0MrxKzx2I— RSS (@RSSorg) May 29, 2025
His invitation marks yet another significant occasion, reflecting Sangh’s resolve to honour those who are serving the nation despite ideological dissimilarities. Notably, Netam’s presence at the valedictory ceremony will mark second such occasion of a former Congress leader gracing the prestigious event in recent times, seven years after the former President of Bharat Pranab Mukherjee graced the occasion as chief guest in 2018.
