Congress intensifies campaign against Aravalli redefinition, Sachin Pilot joins NSUI protest in Jaipur

Congress sources say that while the party has staged protests on issues such as changes related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) and the National Herald case, they have not generated a widespread public response. In contrast, they claim there is huge public concern over the Supreme Court’s decision related to the Aravalli range, with several social and environmental organisations openly expressing opposition. They argue that Rajasthan remains central to the issue, as nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli range passes through the state.According to departmental sources, the Aravalli hills extend over more than 50,000 square kilometres across 20 districts of Rajasthan. Of this, only about 8,000 to 10,000 square kilometres fall under areas with an elevation of 100 metres or more. Officials said the exact extent of the Aravalli range will be determined only after the preparation of the Master Plan for Sustainable Management (MPSM) by the Union Ministry of Environment.The Congress has indicated that protests may intensify in the coming days. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra recently said the party is preparing a strategy to hold demonstrations at district, block, and state levels in 19 districts of the state. Political observers also suggest the party may consider coordinated movements in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, where the Aravalli range extends.The issue has put the BJP on the defensive, with senior leaders largely avoiding detailed public responses. While Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has defended the government’s position, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has assured that no harm will come to the Aravalli range. Opposition leaders, however, claim these assurances have yet to address public concerns.



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