Rahul Gandhi pledges to visit Bundelkhand protest over Ken-Betwa river link

In Bundelkhand, tribal residents are conducting a peaceful satyagraha against the Ken-Betwa River Link Project, seeking adequate compensation and dignified rehabilitation for lands slated for acquisition. A tribal spokesperson warned that the scheme could affect 21 villages, around 11,500 acres of land belonging to nearly 7,000 families, and result in the loss of about 4.6 million trees, with potential damage to the Panna Tiger Reserve.

Rahul Gandhi posted a video on X featuring the protesters’ testimonies and declared that the Congress stands with them. He pledged to visit the site and bring their demands before the government, accusing authorities of administrative harassment. The project, a Rs 44,605-crore river-linking effort, aims to divert surplus water from the Ken river to the Betwa, promising irrigation for over a million hectares, drinking water for millions, and hydropower generation.