“Minister for Defamation”: Cong MP Fires Back at Rijiju Over Rahul Gandhi Dive Remark

A political controversy erupted on Monday after Congress MP Manickam Tagore strongly criticised Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his claim that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spent Rs 26 crore on a scuba diving activity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands .

Tagore accused Rijiju of behaving like a Minister for Defamation , calling the allegation absurd and politically motivated. He said such statements raise serious questions and distract from real issues being debated around the proposed Great Nicobar development project .

The row comes amid continued political sparring over Gandhi’s recent visit to the islands, during which he had criticised the project, describing it as one of the biggest scams and a threat to tribal and ecological heritage. Gandhi had also shared a video on World Environment Day showing his scuba diving experience in the Andaman Sea, alongside criticism of the government’s approach to forest rights and tribal land protection under the Narendra Modi government .

Responding to this, Rijiju had claimed that the scuba diving activity had triggered an expenditure of Rs 26 crore, suggesting that misinformation and propaganda were being spread around the issue. He also questioned opposition criticism of India’s development policies and their impact on national growth.

Rejecting the claim, Tagore said scuba diving is a common tourist activity in the region and questioned whether every tourist engaging in the sport is spending such an exaggerated amount. He further alleged that the statement could be aimed at discouraging tourism in the islands or diverting attention from concerns surrounding the Great Nicobar development project and its environmental implications.

Tagore also said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not for sale , stressing that development must not come at the cost of ecology, livelihoods, and national resources. He demanded accountability and said citizens deserve facts instead of what he called political propaganda.