Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, shared an article by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on social media, highlighting concerns about the Great Nicobar Island Project. The project, a large-scale initiative by the Indian government, aims to develop the Great Nicobar Island for strategic and economic advantages. The project includes a transshipment port, an international airport, power plants, and a new city. Sonia Gandhi’s article addresses the project’s potential impact on the Nicobar people and the island’s fragile environment. Rahul Gandhi described the project as a “misadventure, trampling on tribal rights and making a mockery of legal and deliberative processes.” Sonia Gandhi’s article, published in The Hindu, expresses worries that the project could damage the unique environment and endanger the indigenous communities on the island, making the area vulnerable to natural disasters. She highlights the potential displacement of Nicobari tribes, whose villages fall within the project’s proposed area. The project also poses a significant threat to the Shompen community, despite the government’s policy of prioritizing their well-being and integrity when considering large development projects. The project is removing a large portion of the Shompen Tribal Reserve, destroying their forests, and paving the way for increased population and tourism on the island. Rahul Gandhi had previously written to the Union Tribal Affairs Minister, expressing concerns that the approval process for the project violated the Forest Rights Act.
