Rahul Gandhi has shared Sonia Gandhi’s article on social media, amplifying the Congress party’s concerns about the Great Nicobar Island Project. The project, a major development initiative by the Indian government, includes plans for a transshipment port, an international airport, power plants, and a new city on Great Nicobar Island. The article, written by Sonia Gandhi, addresses the potential negative consequences of the project on the Nicobar people and their sensitive environment. Rahul Gandhi characterized the project as a misstep, criticizing its disregard for tribal rights and legal procedures. Sonia Gandhi’s article emphasizes the potential for the project to harm the unique ecosystem of the island and endanger the indigenous communities. She points out the risk of displacing the Nicobari tribes, whose villages are located within the project’s proposed area, and the severe threat to the Shompen community. Sonia Gandhi also notes that the project disregards the government’s policy of protecting the well-being and integrity of tribal communities. The project, which involves removing a substantial portion of the Shompen Tribal Reserve, destroying forests, and facilitating increased tourism, is seen as a violation of the rights of the indigenous population. Rahul Gandhi previously wrote to the Union Tribal Affairs Minister, raising concerns about the project’s compliance with the Forest Rights Act and urging adherence to established legal procedures.
