Security up ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Orissa

Security has been beefed up in Niyamgiri area of Orissa's Kalahandi district ahead of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit to the area, an official said today.

Security has been beefed up in Niyamgiri area of Orissa's Kalahandi district ahead of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit to the area, an official said on Wednesday.

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"We have taken all the security measures as per the directives of the central government," an official of the state home department told IANS.

The youth icon of the party is scheduled to address a tribal rally on Thursday afternoon at Jagannathpur near the Niyamgiri hills.

Thousands of Dongaria Kandh and Kutia Kandh tribals of the nearby areas are expected to attend the rally, a senior congress leader said.

The visit assumes importance in view of the union environment ministry's rejection of London-listed Vedanta's bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri hills. The ministry Wednesday axed the project saying that it will affect the tribals living in the area and the environment.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier visited the Lanjigarh area in 2008. He had extended his support to the tribals opposed to mining in the areas.