Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday renewed his attack on the Centre over the Great Nicobar development project, alleging that it places commercial interests above the island's fragile ecology and the welfare of local communities.
In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said he recently visited Indira Point, India's southernmost tip, where he interacted with tribal communities and settlers residing on the island. He alleged that tribal residents were losing their land due to violations of the Forest Rights Act, while settlers, including former soldiers relocated by the government, were not being adequately compensated.
A video shared by Gandhi showed him scuba diving among coral reefs off Great Nicobar and meeting local residents during his visit.
Questioning the government's rationale for the project, Gandhi said the BJP-led Centre was presenting the Great Nicobar Project as a strategic and defence initiative. He argued that if national security was the primary objective, the government should prioritise the expansion of 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.
