Rahul Gandhi Accuses Odisha Govt Of Favoring Adani, Says Rath Yatra Halted For Him

In a fiery speech aimed at both the Odisha government and industrialist Gautam Adani, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the Jagannath Rath Yatra was interrupted last month to accommodate Adani and his family—a move he claimed symbolized the state’s complete surrender to corporate interests.

Speaking at the Congress’s ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save Constitution) rally in Bhubaneswar, Gandhi accused the BJP-led government in Odisha of functioning under the influence of a handful of billionaires, particularly the Adani Group. The rally comes as part of the Congress’s efforts to revive its political presence in Odisha, where it has been out of power since 1995.

“When the Rath Yatra is held, lakhs of devotees gather to witness and pull the sacred chariots. But this time, the procession was reportedly halted so that Adani and his family could offer their prayers,” Gandhi claimed. “This drama tells you everything you need to know about the current Odisha government.”

Adani and his family visited Puri and offered prayers on June 28, a day after the Rath Yatra festival. Their presence has drawn political attention, especially in light of the Congress’s persistent criticism of alleged favoritism shown by the BJP towards the billionaire industrialist.

“Government For Billionaires, Not Tribals”

Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched a broader attack on the central government, accusing it of rewriting the Constitution in favor of a select few. “Nowhere in our Constitution is it written that India belongs to Adani, Ambani, and other billionaires. It belongs to its people—especially its poor, farmers, and tribals,” he said.

Accompanied by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Gandhi also accused the Odisha government of working against the interests of Adivasis, who constitute nearly 22% of the state’s population. “This government is run for 5-6 billionaires, and their aim is to snatch away jal, jungle, and zamin (water, forests, and land) from the tribals,” he said.

Constitution, Secularism Under Attack, Says Congress

The rally also comes in the wake of recent comments by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who last month questioned the inclusion of the words “socialist” and “secular” in the Constitution’s Preamble. Gandhi used the platform to warn that the very idea of India’s constitutional democracy is under threat.

“The Constitution is under attack. The values of equality, secularism, and justice are being diluted. We must stand together to protect them,” he said.

Gandhi reiterated his previous criticism of the Election Commission over the electoral roll revision controversy raised during a recent rally in Bihar, accusing the institution of acting under political pressure.

With this rally, the Congress hopes to regain political relevance in Odisha, as it seeks to position itself as the defender of constitutional values and a check on growing corporate influence in governance.