Rahul Gandhi at the rally in Odisha.
Rahul Gandhi today said Odisha is the richest state in the country in terms of its resources, yet over a third of its population is below poverty line.
Addressing a rally in Salepur, about 50 km from Bhubaneswar, the Congress vice-president said that is because of corruption in the Naveen Patnaik government.
"Your money from your resources is not reaching you, it disappears in the middle," the 43-year-old leader said.
"We sent money from Delhi for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) scheme. The money got stolen. We sent money for mid-day meal scheme, the BJD (ruling Biju Janata Dal) stole that too," he said.
Mr Gandhi reminded the audience of his support to tribals in 2010 agitating against a corporate taking over the bauxite mines at Niyamgiri and said he will fight similar battles in other parts of the state.
The tribal community has been protesting against London-based Vedanta Group's proposed alumina refinery plant in the Niyamgiri hills.
Mr Gandhi said the UPA government at the Centre was working for the welfare of the underprivileged people in Odisha. "We are fighting for the welfare of the poor, Dalits, tribal people and the women," he said.
He asked his party workers to gear up for general elections, due by May. Odisha sends 21 MPs to the Lok Sabha.