The opposition Congress party launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government in Rajasthan on Sunday. The criticism centered on a controversial Supreme Court order concerning mining in sections of the Aravalli hills that are under 100 metres in height. Senior Congress leaders alleged a disturbing collaboration between the state administration and mining mafia interests.
A Legacy of Definitions and Rejections
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot provided a historical context to the dispute. He recalled that back in 2003, an expert committee had proposed defining the Aravallis based on a 100-metre height parameter, considering livelihood and employment perspectives. Acting on this, the then Congress state government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court on February 16, 2010. However, the apex court dismissed this definition within just three days.
Gehlot stated that his government respected the judiciary's decision. Following the order, they initiated a comprehensive mapping of the Aravalli region through the Forest Survey of India. "Our government made serious efforts to detect illegal mining in the Aravallis by directing the use of remote sensing (satellite imagery). A budget of Rs 7 crore was allocated for surveys across 15 districts," he explained. He added that Superintendents of Police and district collectors were directly tasked with curbing illegal mining activities.
The Alleged U-Turn of 2024
Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully presented the core accusation. He asserted that the current BJP government performed a complete reversal on the issue in 2024. According to Jully, in a meeting held on March 1, 2024, Rajasthan's own mining and forest departments supported the very same 100-metre definition that the Supreme Court had rejected years earlier. This stance was later defended in court by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Gehlot emphasized the ecological criticality of the Aravallis, describing them not just as hills but as the lifeline of Rajasthan. He highlighted their role as a natural barrier against the expansion of the Thar Desert. He specifically pointed a finger at Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who represents the Alwar Lok Sabha constituency in Rajasthan. Gehlot expressed disappointment, stating Yadav was expected to be a protector of the Aravallis, not a facilitator of their destruction.
Contrasting Records on Enforcement
The Congress party bolstered its allegations by comparing enforcement data from its tenure versus the BJP's. Congress leaders claimed their government registered a total of 4,206 First Information Reports (FIRs) against illegal mining over a five-year period. In stark contrast, they pointed out that the BJP government registered only 508 FIRs in its first year in power.
The disparity extended to financial penalties. Sanyam Lodha, former advisor to Chief Minister Gehlot, provided figures: "The disparity is also evident in penalty recovery: during its five-year tenure from 2013–2018, the BJP government recovered just Rs 200 crore, whereas Congress recovered Rs 464 crore in penalties between 2019–2024 — more than double the BJP's total."
Meanwhile, the Congress party took its campaign to social media platform X, releasing a short video on the issue. The video reiterated the party's stand, accusing the Modi government of ignoring the voices of protesting villagers, scientists, and ecologists because its priorities lay with "crony capitalists."
