All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet the Dongoria Kondhs during his next visit to Odisha after September 20.
Gandhi will visit Odisha between September 20 and 30. The exact date will be announced in next two to three days, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Jaydev Jena said.
Jena on Thursday met Gandhi in New Delhi to discuss his Odisha visit.
The OPCC president said Gandhi wants to visit the State after the urban local body (ULB) polls as it may divert the focus from campaigning.
Jena said the AICC vice-president will address a public meeting in the Capital city.
Besides, he wants to meet the Dongoria Kondhs.
Jena said Gandhi will meet them here if the OPCC can organise to bring them. Or else, Gandhi is likely to go to a Dongoria Kondh village in Rayagada district, he added.
Gandhi will meet the Dongoria Kondhs in the backdrop of the gram sabha held in 12 villages of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts in which the proposal for mining of bauxite in Niyamgiri hills was rejected.
The AICC vice-president has already visited Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district to express solidarity with the fight of the Dongoria Kondhs to stop mining in Niyamgiri hills.