BJP, Congress Clash Over Aravalli Conservation in Rajasthan

The BJP and Congress in Rajasthan are at odds over the preservation of the Aravalli range. BJP leaders accused former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of spreading misinformation, while Congress leaders staged a silent Satyagraha, alleging weakening of environmental protections.
Senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore criticized Congress leader Gehlot, accusing him of misleading the public to hide failures from his tenure. Rathore highlighted an affidavit regarding the Aravalli range submitted during Gehlot’s government, now referenced by the Supreme Court.
Rathore also faulted Gehlot for not addressing the issue in the Assembly, stating that even within the Congress party, support for Gehlot is lacking. He pointed out that despite Gehlot’s ‘Save Aravalli’ campaign, senior Congress leaders did not show solidarity on social media.
Rathore emphasized that only 2.56% of the Aravalli region is currently under mining, contrasting it with over 700 mining leases issued during the Congress government. He defended the current government’s actions against illegal mining, including the closure of 19,741 illegal mines and filing 2,828 FIRs.
Referring to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s statement, Rathore reassured that the Supreme Court’s ruling would not harm the Aravalli range. He asserted that historical data and scientific evidence confirm the range’s safety.
Meanwhile, the Congress staged a protest in Jaipur led by former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas. Party members gathered at Ambedkar Circle for a silent Satyagraha, accusing the government of deceiving the Supreme Court. Khachariyawas warned of escalating the movement if the central government does not reverse its decision.
District Congress officials and party workers, including R.R. Tiwari, MLA Rafiq Khan, Pushpendra Bhardwaj, and Archana Sharma, participated in the protest.