NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday once again targeted the Centre over the Great Nicobar development project, alleging that it prioritises commercial interests at the cost of the island's ecology and local communities.
In a post on X, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said he had recently visited Indira Point, the southernmost tip of India, where he interacted with tribal communities and settlers living on the island. He claimed that tribal residents were losing their land through violations of the Forest Rights Act, while settlers, including former soldiers relocated there by the government, were not receiving fair compensation.
In the video shared by him, the Congress leader can be seen scuba diving in the waters off Great Nicobar among coral reefs and interacting with local residents during his visit to the island.
Questioning the Centre's Justification
Questioning the Centre's justification for the project, Gandhi said the BJP-led government was portraying the Great Nicobar Project as a strategic and defence initiative. He argued that if defence was the priority, the government should focus on expanding INS Baaz, the Indian Navy's air station in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. "Expand INS Baaz - we will back the government fully. The Navy has been asking for expansion for five years - it has been ignored," Gandhi said.
He also dismissed the argument that the project was necessary for a transhipment port, noting that a similar facility was already being developed in Kerala.
Allegations of Environmental Damage
Rahul Gandhi further alleged that the project would result in the felling of 1.5 crore trees, displacement of tribal communities and military personnel, and damage to coral reefs. He further claimed that coral reefs had been removed from official maps and accused the government of facilitating commercial development on ecologically sensitive land.
He said Great Nicobar could become a global model for sustainable tourism and conservation, adding that he stood for "ecologically balanced development".
"I stand for ecologically balanced development. These islands can be the most extraordinary sustainable destination the world has ever seen. That is the India worth fighting for," he said.
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