Rahul slams Odisha BJP govt for 'handing over state resources to billionaires'

United News of India

11-07-2025

Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today launched a scathing attack on the BJP government in Odisha, accusing it of handing over the state's land, water, forests, and other resources to a handful of billionaires, including Adani and Ambani.
Addressing a 'Sambidhan Bachao' rally at the Baramunda Ground here, Gandhi alleged that the current government does not belong to the people, but to industrialists like Adani and a few other billionaires who, he claimed, are now running the state government.
'This government has handed over land, mines, forests, and water to just four or five big industrial houses,' he said.
He also blamed both the present BJP government and the previous BJD government for allowing the state's resources to be exploited by 5–6 private companies.
Gandhi claimed that it was evident Adani is running the BJP government in Odisha, citing the instance when the chariot of Lord Jagannath was allegedly stopped during the Puri Rath Yatra for the Adani family.
"Development is not meant for just two or three billionaires, but for the poor, the Dalits, and the backward communities," Gandhi said.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking thousands of crores from poor farmers in the name of the Fasal Bima Yojana and central government funds, and handing them over to large corporate houses.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also alleged that the BJP government in Odisha is evicting Adivasis from their land and depriving them of land pattas while allocating the same land to large companies.
He emphasized, 'Jal (water), Jungle (forest), and Jameen (land) belong to the Adivasis and will remain with them.' Gandhi assured that the Congress will return land to the Adivasis if voted to power in the state.
He reminded the public that the Constitution protects the rights of the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, and backward communities. 'Nowhere in the Constitution is it written that it belongs to Ambani, Adani, or any other billionaire,' he said.
Gandhi also remarked that in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, 'wherever you go, you see only Adani, Adani, and Adani.'
Expressing serious concern over women's safety in Odisha, he said more than 40,000 women have gone missing in the state, and their whereabouts remain unknown. 'Every day, 15 women are subjected to sexual abuse or rape in the state ,' he said.
He called on Congress workers to unite and fight against the BJP government and remove it from power.
'A caste census is a must if you want change in Odisha,' he said, adding that such a census would empower Dalits, Adivasis, the poor, and backward communities.
Gandhi also criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of working for the BJP.
'The ECI remained silent when we questioned how one crore new voters suddenly appeared between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra and asked for the updated voter list,' he said.
He alleged that the BJP "stole" the elections in Maharashtra and is now attempting to do the same in Bihar. 'But the Congress will not allow them to steal the elections in Bihar,' he declared.
Gandhi also accused the BJP government of pressuring the Drivers' Federation, which is on an indefinite strike, to disrupt the Congress rally.
'But they failed,' he said, thanking the Drivers' Federation for not succumbing to the pressure and for supporting the rally by allowing vehicles to transport Congress workers.
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