Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today said the benefits of mineral resources are not reaching the common people of Odisha.

Rahul Gandhi was holding the first ever road show in the state ahead of the Parliamentary elections.

He alleged that thousands crores of rupees have been siphoned away by illegal mining of iron ore, manganese and coal by the BJD government.

Addressing a huge public meeting at Bhatapada of Salepur in Cuttack district of Odisha, the Congress vice-president said his party will fight for the cause of the tribals, backward classes and common people and bring back a pro-poor government in Odisha defeating the Naveen Patnaik government in the ensuing Assembly elections.

He said, though Centre has given highest financial assistance to Odisha in the last five year, it continues to be the poorest state in the country.