Congress pledges support for tribal protest against Ken-Betwa dam project

The Indian National Congress has thrown its weight behind tribal groups staging a satyagraha against the Ken-Betwa Link Project, with party leader Rahul Gandhi declaring the organisation's commitment to their cause. Gandhi said the Congress would stand alongside tribal communities in their resistance to the ambitious but controversial inter-basin water transfer initiative.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project, a central government infrastructure scheme, has drawn sustained opposition from indigenous groups and environmental advocates who argue it threatens tribal livelihoods and forest ecosystems across central India. The proposed diversion would channel waters from the Ken River basin to the Betwa River basin to address water scarcity in drought-prone regions.

Gandhi's statement represents an attempt by the Congress to mobilise support among tribal constituencies ahead of forthcoming electoral contests. The party has indicated it will mount legislative pressure on the government to reconsider the project's implementation, positioning itself as a defender of indigenous rights and environmental conservation.

The Ken-Betwa scheme has remained contentious since its conception, with environmental groups and tribal representatives highlighting ecological and social costs. Gandhi's pledge to back the satyagraha underscores the Congress's broader engagement with grassroots movements challenging central government policies in resource-rich regions.