Rohtak MP and Congress leader Deepender Hooda launched a sharp critique against the central government on Friday, questioning its arguments presented before the Supreme Court on the crucial matter of the Aravalli hills. He accused the government of harbouring "malicious intent" and using "flawed arguments" in the apex court, asserting that the people of the country have outrightly rejected the government's stance.
Government's "Deceit Exposed," Says Hooda
Interacting with media persons in the National Capital Region (NCR), Hooda stated that the government's "deceit was exposed" and its "intention to loot came to light." He vowed strong opposition, declaring, "We will not allow the govt to loot." The MP highlighted that not only is the public rejecting the government's proposed 100-metre parameter for the Aravallis, but the Supreme Court's own empowered committee has also deemed this limit unjustified.
Hooda revealed that the Congress party had officially raised the environmental and Aravalli issues by giving notices in both the winter session of Parliament and the Haryana Legislative Assembly. However, he lamented that the ruling government refused to even allow a discussion on these critical matters. "If environmental and Aravalli issues, including those of Gurugram and Faridabad, are not discussed in the Indian Parliament or the Haryana Assembly, would they be discussed in the US Senate or the British House of Commons?" he questioned pointedly.
Changing Definitions and a Call for Action
The Congress leader further accused the BJP of resorting to renaming tactics, extending it now to the very definition of the Aravalli range. "The BJP changes the names of schemes, and now they have even changed the definition of the Aravalli range," Hooda stated. He challenged this move, asking, "Will changing the definition save the Aravalli hills?"
He reminded that the Supreme Court itself had rejected a similar justification back in 2010. Hooda warned that the people of India will not allow any "backdoor attempt to sacrifice the environment to corruption" to succeed. He issued a direct demand to the government: to approach the Supreme Court, apologise to the nation, and file a review petition to get the contentious 100-metre decision overturned.
A Vow to Protect the Aravallis
In a rallying cry for environmental conservation, Deepender Hooda asserted that the Aravalli hills must not be treated as unclaimed property. "The people of Haryana, along with Rajasthan, will fight to save the Aravalli hills and the environment," he declared. Drawing a parallel to the farmers' protest, he expressed confidence that public pressure would force the BJP government to backtrack on this issue as well.
"The people of the country will not allow the backdoor attempt to sacrifice the environment to succeed. We will not allow the mountains and the environment to fall prey to corruption," the MP concluded, signalling a firm political and public stand against the government's current position on the ecologically sensitive Aravalli range.
