Live reporting: Rahul asks people of Odisha to throw out BJD govt

Salepur(Cuttack): Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha and asked the people to throw out the BJD and bring Congress back to power.Addressing a rally heren his first in Odisha this year, Rahul Gandhi described Odisha as the richest state of India full of natural and mineral resources, but its resources are being looted by mining mafia. The Congress leader alleged that money sent from the Centre for MNREGa, rice scheme and child development schemes are being siphoned off in Odisha. The mining mafia is ruling the roost here and it is looting your share of the natural resources, he said."We fought for the Niyamagiri tribals in Odisha. We will continue to fight for the poor and tribals", Rahul Gandhi said. 12 lakh families have lost their savings in the chit fund scam in Odisha, while 10 lakh youths are unemployed in the state, Rahul Gandhi said.Rahul will be meeting minority groups, students, youths and women in Bhubaneswar today and tomorrow to incorporate their suggestions in the Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls. Following is the live reporting : 12:56 pm: Rahul ends his brief speech12:55 pm: Throw out the BJD govt in Odisha, bring Congress to power which will work for the dalits, tribals : Rahul12:52 pm: We are fighting for poor in Odisha, for Niyamagiri tribals. Fight the battle against the corrupt govt here: Rahul12:50 pm: All money sent from Centre for MNREGA, rice scheme, child development schemes for Odisha were siphoned off midway: Rahul12:47 Pm: Rs 60,000 cr worth iron, manganese looted by mafia : 3ahul12:46 pm: 10 lakh youths in Odisha are unemployed and 22 of ts 30 districts are .aoist affected. Schools, hospitals are lying closed : Rahul12:45 pm: People of Odisha have strength and knowledge. Odisha is probably the richest state of India which has iron, manganese, bauxite, forest, coal, coastline. There is no lack of money. Only thing lacking is your money from bauxite and manganese don't reach you, its stolen midway : Rahul12:44 pm: Rahul begins speech as crowd applauds12:36 pm: Rahul Gandhi listens attentively as Srikanta Jena speaks. The crowd is. Not massive as expected12:35 pm: Union Minister Srikanta Jena tells rally Odisha has become No 1 in poverty despite 15 years of BJD rule12:03 pm: Rahul's carcade towards rally venue slows down as several thousand Congress workers and villagers crowd around his vehicle11:40 am: Hundreds of villagers flock on both sides of Cuttack-Salepur road to see Rahul who waved at them and stopped his vehicle at several places to accept bouquets.11:20 am: At the rally venue in Bhatapada near Salepur, large number of women congregate inside enclosures waiting for Rahul.11:11 am: Rahul /andhi's carcade enters Cuttack after crossing Kathjodi bridge11:10 am: Huge crowds of Congress supporters greet Rahul's carcade in Cuttack.11:09 am: Political pundits point towards the timing of Rahul's Odisha visit. Modi is due to address a rally in Bhubaeswar two days later10:30 am: Rahul comes out of Bhubaneswar airport . Congress workers offer bouquets to Rahul at several places in Bhubaneswar.9:25 am: Bhatapada near Salepur is the venue of Rahul's rally. A large number of policemen deployed, and Congress suppporters and locals have started trickling inside the enclosure. 9 am: Congress organisers say, Rahul will be given welcome by party workers at Shishu Bhavan, Raj Mahal Chowk, and Rasulgarh chowk in Bhubaneswar, when he leaves for Cuttack by road.