SC puts Aravalli verdict on hold, Congress steps up attack on Centre

The Congress on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to put its November ruling on the Aravalli range in abeyance, but the development has also exposed what many within the party view as a major strategic misstep in handling the issue.

- AJIT MAINDOLA/ANAND SINGH

Soon after the top court paused its earlier judgment and ordered a fresh survey through a new committee, Congress demanded the immediate resignation of Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, accusing the Centre of attempting to weaken protections for the Aravalli hills. The Supreme Court of India said it would revisit whether restricting the definition of Aravallis to landforms above 100 metres could lead to unregulated mining, and listed the matter for further hearing on January 21.

While party leaders publicly hailed the court's directive as a “flicker of hope”, political observers argue that the Congress failed to capitalise on the Aravalli issue at a critical moment. Despite its wide environmental implications for Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, the party did not push the matter forcefully through its Working Committee, nor did it build a sustained mass movement around it when public anger was already rising after the court's earlier ruling and government statements.