Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Ken-Betwa protests in Madhya Pradesh. He said that the PM Modi-led government is afraid of both truth and non-violent resistance.

Gandhi's statement came days after police cleared a tribal protest against the Ken-Betwa river linking project in the BJP-ruled state.

Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi said: "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."

Referring to tribals as the country's 'original owners', Gandhi asserted that the first right over water, forests and lands 'belong to them alone.'

"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," the Raebareli MP added.

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The former Congress president expressed solidarity with the protesting tribal communities and assured that his party will ensure they get justice, including adequate compensation and proper rehabilitation. Rahul Gandhi also shared a video clip highlighting the ongoing protests in Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier on July 19, police in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh had removed protesters from the protest site, ending their 15-day-long agitation.

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What is Ken-Betwa Link Project?

The Ken-Betwa Link Project, costing Rs 44,605 crore, is India's first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. Its primary objective is to irrigate approximately 10.62 lakh hectares of land in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, provide drinking water to approximately 62 lakh people, and generate hydroelectricity.