Rahul Gandhi backs tribal protests against India's first river-linking project

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today (27 July) expressed support for tribal communities protesting the Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Madhya Pradesh, India's first inter-basin river-linking initiative.

In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that tribal families displaced by the project had been denied fair compensation and dignified rehabilitation after losing their land.

"The tribal brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh had sat on a water satyagraha and hunger strike because their land was taken away for the Ken-Betwa project but they received neither fair compensation nor dignified rehabilitation," he wrote.

Describing tribal communities as the country's "original owners", the leader of the opposition said they have the first right over water, forests and land.

"And their 'satyagraha' is because that very right is being snatched from them today. In their unique way, their demand is simply this: provide a proper means of livelihood–or else life is no different from a funeral pyre. But even this is unacceptable to the BJP government. Instead of listening to them, their peaceful protest is being crushed with police force," Gandhi added.

He said the Congress would ensure justice for the affected communities, including fair compensation and proper rehabilitation.

Gandhi also shared a video highlighting the protests in Madhya Pradesh.

The remarks came days after police in Chhatarpur district removed protesters from the site on 19 July, ending their 15-day agitation.

The Rs44,605 crore Ken-Betwa Link Project, undertaken under India's National Perspective Plan, aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares of land, provide drinking water to around 6.2 million people and generate hydropower in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.