The Deep Web: NGOs And Political Activism

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- DIVYANSH KALA

Recently, in her editorialin The Hindu, Congress Parliamentary Chair Sonia Gandhi has criticised the Greater Nicobar project by calling it as a “planned misadventure” . She made claims that the project was “insensitively pushed through, makinga mockery ofall legal anddeliberate processes.”

She further argued that “it will cause a large scale influx of people and tourists on the island. Ultimately, theShompenwill find themselves cut offfrom their ancestral lands and unable to sustain their social and economic existence.”

She has also alleged that due process of law and regulations has been overlapped by the Government. She claimed that“The country’s laws are being mocked wholesale Unconscionably, one of the country’s most vulnerable groups mayhave to pay the ultimate price for it. ”Shealso made criticism on the basis that the proposed port under the projectis “controversial” because some part of itis the part of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)1A.

In the concluding part of herarticle she madea appeal that Wemustraiseourvoice against this travesty of justice and this betrayal of our national values.” so that the centralgovernment can halt the GreaterNicobar Project. But the question iswhy the Grand Old Party of this Democracyisagainst the project whichis crucial for Bharat to attain maritime supremacy in Indo-Pacific region?

Greater Nicobar Islands Development Projectis a$ 9 billion mega project conceived by the NITI Ayog and being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANI-IDC). The Project constitutes the development of a port, airport, powerand township facilities. This will becomea catalyst for theenhancement of Bharat’s maritime security and trade.