‘This Is Not Development But Destruction’: Rahul Gandhi After Visiting Great Nicobar Island

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre’s Great Nicobar Island development project after visiting the region, describing it as “one of the biggest scams and gravest crimes against this country’s natural and tribal heritage in our lifetime”.

In a post on X, he said, “I travelled through Great Nicobar today. These are the most extraordinary forests I have ever seen in my life. Trees older than memory. Forests that took generations to grow. The people on this island are equally beautiful – both the adivasi communities and the settlers – but they are being robbed of what is rightfully theirs.”

He further criticised the project, stating, “The government calls what it is doing here a ‘Project’. What I have seen is not a project. It is millions of trees marked for the axe. It is 160 square kilometres of rainforest condemned to die. It is communities that have been ignored while their homes have been snatched away. This is not development. This is destruction dressed in development’s language.”

Calling for immediate action, he added, “What is being done in Great Nicobar is one of the biggest scams and gravest crimes against this country’s natural and tribal heritage in our lifetime. It must be stopped. And it can be stopped – if Indians choose to see what I have seen.”

Earlier on Tuesday (April 2), Rahul Gandhi visited Great Nicobar Island and met local Nicobarese community leaders at Rajiv Nagar in Campbell Bay. The delegation raised concerns and fears regarding the Union government’s Rs 92,000 crore mega infrastructure project planned for the region.

Addressing those present at the community hall in Rajiv Nagar, he said he had fulfilled a promise made earlier this year when he met a Nicobarese delegation. “I don’t want to say much here today. I am here to listen to you and assure you that we will do whatever we can to fight for you,” he said.

Earlier, on Sunday, the Congress leader met a delegation of tribal leaders from Great Nicobar Island who are opposing the project. He had assured them that he would raise their concerns in Parliament and visit the islands personally to understand the situation on the ground.

(IANS)