Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday mounted a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of the Great Nicobar Island development project, accusing him of spreading “propaganda” to obstruct a project of strategic and national importance.
Speaking to India Today Editor Gaurav Sawant in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rijiju defended the Centre’s flagship project and rejected allegations that it would harm the environment, saying India’s environmental laws and regulatory safeguards were strong enough to prevent ecological damage.
“The environment is an excuse,” Rijiju said. “The propaganda that Rahul Gandhi ji has spread is aimed at stopping the strategic leverage India is going to get in the future.”
He also alleged that Gandhi’s scuba-diving visit to the islands was amplified by an “ecosystem” seeking to build opposition to the project.
“Rahul Gandhi ji spent 26 crore rupees on scuba diving in Andaman. The entire ecosystem spread the news. By connecting scuba diving with marine life and environmental concerns, they tried to create propaganda against the project,” he claimed.
‘ENVIRONMENT LAW VERY STRONG’
Responding to criticism that the project would damage forests and marine ecosystems, Rijiju said no government could arbitrarily destroy the environment.
“Our environment law is very strong and our government policy towards climate, environment and the ecosystem is very clear. No one can destroy anything by their will,” he said.
The minister also rejected concerns that the project would adversely affect indigenous communities living in the islands. Referring to tribes such as the Shompen, Nicobarese, Great Andamanese, Jarawa and Sentinelese, Rijiju said successive governments had protected their interests and claimed that no community had been disturbed by state-led development initiatives.
He argued that environmental conservation, tribal welfare and economic development were not mutually exclusive.
“We have to do everything. We have to do environment protection, development projects, protect indigenous natives and bring industry. The world’s most beautiful tourism centre should also be built here,” he said.
RAHUL GANDHI A ‘PAWN’ OF LARGER ECOSYSTEM
The minister accused Rahul Gandhi and his supporters of attempting to block India’s progress by raising environmental concerns around major infrastructure projects. “Rahul Gandhi ji is just a pawn. Such a huge ecosystem of power is working in this country today,” he said.
According to Rijiju, the same groups oppose dams, highways, mines and other infrastructure projects by invoking environmental concerns. “Anywhere a good project is built, they reach there in the name of environment. They file PILs, start protests and try to stop it,” he alleged.
DON’T STOP INDIA’S PROGRESS
Rijiju said political opposition was legitimate in a democracy but questioned why projects that, in his view, served national interests should be resisted.
“If people do not vote for you, and you do not come to power, why do you want to stop the country’s progress?” he asked. “If there is a project in the national interest, then it should not be opposed.”
He dismissed claims that the project would devastate the island’s ecology, saying critics were making allegations “without logic” and without presenting detailed evidence.
DEEP OCEAN MISSION, BLUE ECONOMY
Highlighting the economic and strategic significance of the islands, Rijiju said India needed to better utilise its vast maritime resources through the blue economy and deep-ocean exploration initiatives.
He pointed to the government’s Deep Ocean Mission and ongoing efforts to map and explore resources in the Indian Ocean.
“We have started mineral exploration in the deep ocean. The project that we are doing by going inside 5,000 metres is moving very fast. Earlier there was no Deep Ocean Mission,” he said.
MESSAGE TO OPPOSITION
As Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Rijiju said he maintained cordial relations with opposition leaders and regularly interacted with them, but drew a distinction between political criticism and opposition to what he described as national-interest projects.
“They are not our enemies. You can criticise the government, abuse it, it is part of democracy. But when they work against the country, I get very angry,” he said.
In a direct message to the Congress leader, Rijiju added: “I think you have matured, Rahul Gandhi ji. Stay away from all this. It will be good for the country if you also play a positive role.”
– Ends
Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Jun 21, 2026 12:39 IST
