Rahul Gandhi spends night in tribal village in Orissa

Camp: Koraput (ORISSA)
Date: 8th March 2008



On a 4 day visit to Orissa, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi spent a night in a tribal village of Koraput district, sharing food with the tribal’s and discussing their problems. Mr. Gandhi, who is on a four-day visit of the state, digressed from the schedule to visit Kondhpungar village in this district on Saturday and spent the night there. The local police, which has asked the young leader, to stick to his itinerary due to security reasons, was caught unawares by the unplanned visit. Rahul Gandhi was supposed to take rest at Damanjori Guest House here. The local residents complained to Mr. Gandhi about the indifferent attitude of and lack of cooperation from the local authorities. Rahul Gandhi was of the view that although development was important, it cannot be at the cost of nature and the tribal identity. Hailing the tribal’s as preservers of natural wealth and knoweldge, the Congress leader urged them to take up the role of leadership in the society. Mr. Gandhi on Saturday visited a remote village called Ejurpa in the Niyamgiri forest area and promised support to the local tribal’s for their agitation against the proposed bauxite mining from the hills.