Congress leader Rahul Gandhi does snorkelling during a visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Photo: @INCIndia/X via PTI
Rahul slams Centre over Great Nicobar Project, says it's a ruse for casinos and hotels
On the World Environment Day, he shares a video of his recent visit to the islands and labels the mega-project a 'lie' to benefit a single businessman
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (June 5), which is also the World Environment Day, described the Narendra Modi government's justification for the Great Nicobar Island Project as a “lie”, dismissing claims that it is centred around defence and a transshipment port. He alleged that the project’s true purpose is to benefit a single businessman who seeks to construct hotels and casinos on what he called India's most ecologically irreplaceable land.
Also read: Great Nicobar project: Why it matters, and why it’s controversial
The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition released a video the same day spanning more than 16 minutes, drawing from his personal visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in late April.
In another post, he appealed to the public to sign a petition calling on the Modi government to choose environmental preservation over corporate profit, summarising the message as — “We choose green over greed”.
मैं अंडमान और निकोबार के विनाश के खिलाफ़ पूरी शक्ति के साथ खड़ा हूँ।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 5, 2026
अंडमान और निकोबार भारत की सबसे अनमोल प्राकृतिक धरोहर हैं। वर्तमान और आने वाली पीढ़ियों के लिए उनकी रक्षा करना मेरा कर्तव्य है।
मेरे साथ जुड़िए - याचिका पर हस्ताक्षर कीजिए और इस अमूल्य संपत्ति को बचाने की लड़ाई… pic.twitter.com/vcE9T4uyaM
Rahul blasts Centre on World Environment Day
In another post on X, he said, “This World Environment Day, I want to ask every young Indian one question: What kind of India do you want to inherit? One where rainforests have been bulldozed for casinos, coral reefs erased from maps, tribal communities pushed off their land, and the air we breathe turned into poison? Or one where India's natural heritage is protected, our tribal communities are safe, and progress works with nature not against it.”
This #WorldEnvironmentDay, I want to ask every young Indian one question:
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 5, 2026
What kind of India do you want to inherit?
One where rainforests have been bulldozed for casinos, coral reefs erased from maps, tribal communities pushed off their land, and the air we breathe turned into… https://t.co/Wci4BNkGQu
Rahul said the central government was destroying the Great Nicobar Island.
“More than 1.5 crore trees, ancient coral reefs, irreplaceable rainforests are being destroyed to profit one businessman,” he claimed.
'Bulldozing your inheritance'
“This is your inheritance they are bulldozing. And only you can stop them. Sign the petition. Tell the Modi government ‘We choose Green Over Greed’,” Gandhi said, sharing the link to the petition.
In his post on X, along with the video, Rahul had said earlier, “I visited the southernmost tip of India. I stood at Indira Point. I walked under trees that have stood for centuries. I dove into coral reefs among the most vibrant on earth. And I sat with the people who live there. Tribal communities, whose land is being taken away by violating the Forest Rights Act. Settlers, many of them former soldiers, placed on these islands by the Indian government, who aren't getting fair compensation.”
I visited the southernmost tip of India.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 5, 2026
I stood at Indira Point. I walked under trees that have stood for centuries. I dove into coral reefs among the most vibrant on earth.
And I sat with the people who live there. Tribal communities, whose land is being taken away by… pic.twitter.com/RLNtT6L0U4
“The Modi government and BJP tells you the Great Nicobar Project is about defence. It is not,” the Congress leader added.
“Expand INS Baaz -we will back the government fully. The Navy has been asking for expansion for five years - it has been ignored,” Gandhi said. INS Baaz is a naval air station located near Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Also read: Great Nicobar project: Strategic dream or ecological gamble?
He said the government is telling the people that the project is about a transhipment port when it is not.
India is already building one in Kerala, which is on the mainland, Rahul said.
“What it actually is: 1.5 crore trees felled. Coral reefs erased from official maps. Soldiers and tribals displaced so one businessman can build hotels and casinos on India's most irreplaceable ecological land,” he alleged.
“Every young Indian I have spoken to understands this. You know that no amount of profit is worth destroying what can never be recovered,” Rahul further said.
'What Modi doesn't want you to see'
In the video titled “This is what Modi doesn't want you to see”, Rahul is seen diving deep into the waters, speaking with settlers, tribal representatives and talking about his experience from the visit.
“What is the plan? The plan is that you cut these thousands and thousands of trees and you illegally ship them out and you make billions and billions of dollars. And you use that money to build your hotels, your casinos and your real estate. That is what is going on,” he said in the video.
Also read: Great Nicobar mega project sparks tribal outcry over rights, ecology
Rahul also said the area that is being talked of is about four times the size of New Delhi.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh tagged Rahul’s video and said the Great Nicobar Island Project is an “ecological disaster”.
“Fanciful strategic reasons are now being invented for it whereas other alternatives exist. The environment & forest approvals for the project have been given on bogus grounds,” he said on X.
(With agency inputs)