The Union minister, at National Tribal Entrepreneurs Conclave, calls the fugitive liquor baron a ‘smart’ person who ‘bought’ bankers and politicians.

Describing fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya as ‘smart’, Union minister Jual Oram on Friday advised tribal people to become smart enough to avail bank loans to become successful entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the maiden National Tribal Entrepreneurs Conclave 2018, here, the Minister for Tribal Welfare said the Union government would encourage tribal entrepreneurs through various schemes.

Mr. Oram said though people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes get reservation in education, jobs and politics, the disadvantage is that they are not “treated” on par with others in terms of knowledge and talent.

“We should become entrepreneurs, we should become intelligent. We should become smart. We should gain information. Information is power. Those who possess information, they control power,” Mr. Oram said.

He then went on to say, “You people criticise Vijay Mallya. But what is Vijay Mallya? He is smart. He employed some intelligent people. He did something here and there with bankers, politicians, government.”

“He bought them. Who prevented you (from being smart)? Who asked Adivasis not to influence the system? Who prevented you from influencing bankers,” Mr. Oram asked.

Mr. Mallya, who fled to the U.K. in March 2016, is currently undergoing an extradition trial in a London court over fraud and money laundering charges by Indian authorities.

The minister said some of the SC and ST people shy away from disclosing their title or surname fearing disparity in society. Mr. Oram advised them not to do so and told them that these communities would also thrive running businesses.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes that SC and STs should no longer remain as job-seekers. But they should become job givers. We should fulfil his wish. I as a minister (am) determined on that. We will encourage tribal entrepreneurs though various schemes from the government,” he added.

More than 1000 tribal entrepreneurs from across the country participated in the NTEC 2018, which was organised by Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.