HOME > MARKETS > ECONOMY NEWS
  ECONOMY NEWS
ECONOMY
Congress stands with tribals staging 'satyagraha' against 'Ken-Betwa project', will pressure govt: Rahul Gandhi
Aug-19-2026

Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, backed tribal residents of Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region protesting against the Ken-Betwa River Link Project, saying he stands with them in this struggle and will visit the site to exert pressure on the government.

Rahul Gandhi said, ‘The problems, demands, struggles, and personal ordeals of the tribal brothers and sisters who are carrying out a satyagraha against the Ken-Betwa project--their own account. For years, these residents of Bundelkhand have been enduring injustice and oppression solely for their rights; they deserve respect and support’. He added, ‘In this fight of our tribal brothers and sisters, the Congress and I stand with them’.

Gandhi also shared a video of his recent meeting with a group of tribals affected by the project. In the video, a tribal representative is heard claiming that the project would affect 21 tribal-dominated villages and impact approximately 4.6 million (46 lakh) trees as well as the Panna Tiger Reserve.

According to the representative, around 11,500 acres of land belonging to approximately 7,000 families would be lost to the project. They urged Rahul Gandhi to raise the issue of alleged harassment by the administration in Parliament and to join the movement.

The tribal residents have been holding a Satyagraha against the project, demanding adequate compensation and dignified rehabilitation for people whose land is being acquired.

The Rs 44,605-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project is the country’s first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. It aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares of land, provide drinking water to about 6.2 million people and generate hydropower in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.


  RELATED NEWS >>