Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addresses a crowd in Korba.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi attacked the Narendra Modi government's development agenda today, saying it was yet to reach the tribals and the poor even in the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh.
"What kind of development is this? The land belongs to you but the money and benefits go to the industrialists," he said.
"If Modiji takes off his 15 lakh suit and comes here, he'll understand how MNREGA has benefitted people in the villages."
"Modi's campaign is based on development. We didn't hear the word poor even once," he told the crowd at Dabhra, where he addressed a rally at the end of his 10-km march from Saradih village.
During the march - held on the second day of his two-day visit to the state - Mr Gandhi stopped at three places to interact with the people, who had lost farmland to power plants, dams and mines.
"People here are crying that their land has been taken away," he said. "Modi makes promises, but you will never see him visiting this place. He will come again after 5 years and say, 'Give us 5 more years and we will give you acche din."
The Congress has been trying to strike a chord at the state's tribal heartland, where land acquisition is a burning issue. At least a dozen coal mining projects and 30 new power plants coming up in the catchment areas of Hansdeo Bango dam.
Around 20 villages in Korba and Janjgir-Champa districts in north Chhattisgath have already passed a resolution rejecting the government's acquisition move.
Activists say over 15,000 villagers would be displaced by these projects without any compensation.