Rahul Gandhi lines up protests in 7 states

NEW DELHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will launch an agitation in seven states against the alleged violation of the forests rights act by the Modi government. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi will launch the agitation in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh within “two to three months.”

The party plans to raise the issue in the monsoon session of Parliament. If the agitation against the land acquisition bill was aimed at reaching out to farmers, the one on forests rights act — on which Gandhi has already held discussions with PCC presidents — will focus on tribals.

Ramesh disclosed the agitation plan while making two specific allegations against the Adani group but a source familiar with the company said that the government had already responded to the allegation. The environment ministry said it stood by the denial it issued on Sunday on the Mundra port issue.