‘MP’s Ken-Betwa Project: BJP-Led Govt Is Crushing Peaceful Agitation’
Protesting tribals on the banks of the Barana river in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district (Photo: PTI)
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP-led Union government of suppressing the peaceful protest of tribal communities opposing displacement caused by the Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh.
In a post on X on July 27, Gandhi claimed that the government was using police force instead of addressing the concerns of Adivasi families who say they are losing their land and forests without fair compensation or proper rehabilitation.
The protests are taking place in villages that are expected to be affected by the Daudhan dam, a major part of the Ken-Betwa Link Project. Hundreds of tribal residents have been holding a water satyagraha and an indefinite hunger strike for weeks. They are demanding fair compensation, proper rehabilitation, and recognition of their rights under forest and land laws.
As part of their protest, some demonstrators built symbolic funeral pyres and lay on them to show that losing their homes and livelihoods would be like a living death.
The protesters say many families face displacement from ancestral lands and forests that provide food, income, and cultural identity. They also allege that the rehabilitation process has been inadequate and carried out without meaningful consultation with the affected communities.
On July 19, police removed most of the protesters from the protest site, leading to criticism from opposition leaders and tribal rights groups.
Reacting to the incident, Rahul Gandhi said the tribal communities had no choice but to launch a water satyagraha because their land had been acquired without ensuring justice.
“The tribal brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh 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,” Gandhi wrote.
He also stressed that tribal communities have a special relationship with forests and natural resources.
“The truth is that tribals are the original owners of the country — the first right to water, forests and land belongs to them alone,” he said, adding that their constitutional rights were being taken away.
Calling the protest a fight for survival rather than a political movement, Gandhi said the demonstrators were simply asking for a secure livelihood.
“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,” he alleged.
Expressing support for the protesters, Gandhi said the Congress would continue to stand with the affected communities.
“We stand with our tribal brothers and sisters. We will secure justice for them — compensation and rehabilitation will have to be provided,” he said while sharing a video highlighting the ongoing protests.
The Ken-Betwa Link Project, estimated to cost Rs 44,605 crore, is India’s first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. The project aims to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River and is expected to benefit the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, which covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the government, the project will irrigate around 1.062 million hectares of farmland, provide drinking water to nearly 6.2 million people, and generate hydropower. Officials say it will improve water availability, support agriculture, and boost economic development in one of India’s most water-stressed regions.
However, the project has faced strong opposition from environmental groups and tribal organisations. Critics argue that it will lead to large-scale displacement of forest-dependent communities and submerge significant forest areas, including parts of the Panna landscape, which is known for its rich biodiversity.
Tribal groups say they are not against development but believe that development should not come at the cost of their homes, forests, and livelihoods.
The protesters have repeatedly demanded fair compensation, proper rehabilitation, and informed consent before any displacement takes place. They argue that these safeguards are essential to protect the rights and dignity of affected families.
The protests over the Ken-Betwa project have once again highlighted the ongoing debate between infrastructure development and the rights of Indigenous communities. While the government maintains that the project will bring long-term benefits to millions of people, protesters continue to insist that development must be carried out in a way that respects the rights of those who stand to lose the most.
