Sonia Gandhi Accuses Modi Govt of ‘Signing Death Warrant’ for Aravalli Hills
Environmental Flashpoint: Sonia Gandhi Says Govt Policies Endangering 90% of Aravalli Range
New Delhi, 03-11-2025: Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday delivered a sharp critique of the Union Government’s environmental policies, asserting that the Modi administration has, since taking office, revealed what she described as a deeply troubling and cynical approach toward ecological protection. Speaking in New Delhi, she alleged that the Centre’s recent decisions amount to “nearly signing a death warrant” for the fragile Aravalli hills, one of India’s oldest mountain ranges and an essential shield against desertification in the northern plains.
Gandhi called for the immediate withdrawal of the amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Forest Conservation Rules of 2022, which she accused the government of “bulldozing” through Parliament without adequate consultation or consideration of long-term consequences. She argued that these changes weaken long-standing safeguards that prevented indiscriminate exploitation of forested and ecologically sensitive areas.
Expressing grave concern, Gandhi highlighted the government’s recent declaration that hills within the Aravalli range measuring less than 100 metres in elevation would no longer come under stringent restrictions on mining. She said this decision effectively opens the door for extensive quarrying and illegal extraction, as nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli formations fall below this threshold.
