Rahul attacks BJD, says Cong has fought for Niyamgiri tribals

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday turned the heat on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led Odisha government, accusing it of not letting the benefits of central schemes trickle down to the people and siding with the mining mafia.

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Addressing a rally at Salepur in Odisha's Cuttack district, Gandhi attacked the BJD, a former partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over the Niyamgiri controversy as well.
"We have fought for the tribals of Niyamgiri," Gandhi said, invoking the tribal community's protest against Vedanta Group's proposed alumina refinery plant in the Niyamgiri hills.

At a time when the opposition parties in the state including the Congress are vocal against an alleged large-scale mining scam, Gandhi blamed Naveen Patnaik's government for not maintaining a clean sheet on the issue.
Read: Rahul Gandhi begins road show in Odisha
Media reports say a leaked Justice MB Shah Commission report has pointed out 94 of the 192 iron-ore mining leases in Odisha do not have environmental clearance and 75, which have a green nod, have mined far beyond the approved level.
Gandhi stressed the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was working for the welfare of the underprivileged people in the mineral-rich state.
"We are fighting for the welfare of the poor, tribal people and women," Gandhi said.
He asked Congress workers to gear up for the 2014 general elections in order to usher in a change in Odisha, which sends 21 members to the Lok Sabha.