Srivijaypuram, April 29: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday characterized the Great Nicobar Project in Campbell Bay as a major scam and a grave offense against India’s natural and tribal heritage. Following his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha asserted that the proposed 160 square kilometers of rainforest destruction represents “destruction wrapped in the language of development.”
During his tour of the islands, which began on April 26, Gandhi met with members of the Nicobari tribal community and local residents to discuss their grievances. He stated that the local population is being stripped of their rightful belongings and neglected while their homes are repurposed for industrial use. He declared that the massive felling of ancient trees for the ₹81,000 crore project is a tragedy, maintaining that the ecological cost far outweighs any stated benefits.
The central government maintains that the project, which features a transshipment terminal, power plant, and township, is essential for bolstering India’s geostrategic interests and maritime trade. However, tribal leaders expressed their concerns to Gandhi regarding a lack of transparency and the disregard for their ancestral rights. Gandhi affirmed that the government must prioritize the needs of local communities over corporate influence in the Union Territory.
In a social media post, Gandhi described the Great Nicobar forests as extraordinary and asserted that the government’s plan is not a project but a death sentence for a unique ecosystem. He also visited Indira Point to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi before concluding his interactions with the settler and tribal communities. He maintained that the Union government must immediately address the hardships and environmental hazards cited by the island’s inhabitants.
