Bhubaneswar: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Odisha government on Friday, accusing it of being run by Gautam Adani and a handful of billionaires. He made the remarks during the ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save Constitution) rally in Bhubaneswar, which also saw the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Rath Yatra Row: “Chariots Stopped for Adani”
Gandhi alleged that during last month’s Jagannath Rath Yatra, the pulling of the holy chariots was halted to allow Adani and his family to offer prayers.
“Lakhs watch the Rath Yatra. But it was stopped for Adani. This tells you everything about the Odisha government,” he said.
“Odisha Government Belongs to Billionaires”
Gandhi accused the BJP government in Odisha of working for “5–6 billionaires,” especially Adani, at the cost of common people and tribals.
He said the government is looting “jal, jungle, and zameen” (water, forest, land) from tribal communities, which form 22% of the state’s population.
Constitution Under Attack, Says Rahul
Raising alarm over attempts to weaken the Constitution, Gandhi said:
“Nowhere in the Constitution does it say the country belongs to Adani and Ambani.”
He claimed that the Election Commission (EC) was helping the BJP manipulate voter rolls — a claim he also made during a protest in Bihar.
“Over one crore voters were added in Maharashtra. No one knows who they are,” he alleged.
Missing Women and Crimes in Odisha
Rahul Gandhi also targeted the state over women’s safety.
“More than 40,000 women are missing in Odisha. Every day, at least 15 women are raped. But the government is silent.”
Kharge Attacks BJP on Constitution, Manipur Crisis
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of trying to remove the words “secular” and “socialist” from the Constitution.
He also criticised PM Modi for not visiting Manipur, where ethnic violence has continued since May 2023.
“When the PM can visit 45 countries, why can’t he visit Manipur?” Kharge asked.
“He’s quick to go where he receives awards, but has no time for Indians.”
Kharge also pointed to recent attacks on Dalits in Odisha, warning that if people don’t resist, “they will be finished.”
Congress Eyes Revival in Odisha
The rally is part of the Congress’s revival strategy in Odisha, where it has been out of power since 1995. With both BJP and BJD dominating state politics, the Congress aims to regain lost ground ahead of future elections.
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