Youth Congress to hold ‘Aravalli satyagraha yatra’ from January 7 to 20

The Indian Youth Congress has announced a nationwide protest march titled the Aravalli Satyagraha Yatra from January 7 to 20, demanding the withdrawal of the Centre’s proposal to redefine the Aravalli mountain range and calling for a complete ban on mining activities in the ecologically fragile region.

The Yatra will begin in Gujarat on January 7 and pass through Rajasthan and Haryana before concluding in Delhi on January 20. Through this campaign, the Youth Congress aims to draw national attention to what it describes as a serious threat to one of India’s oldest mountain ranges.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi on Friday, Uday Bhanu Chib , president of the Indian Youth Congress, alleged that the Union government had sent a proposal to the Supreme Court suggesting that hills lower than 100 metres should not be classified as part of the Aravalli range. He argued that such a redefinition would open large stretches of the region to mining and commercial exploitation.

Chib also claimed that a Supreme Court appointed committee that earlier monitored mining activities in the Aravallis was disbanded by the Modi government. According to him, the controversial proposal was subsequently sent by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Accusing the BJP led government of favouring industrial interests, the Youth Congress chief said the move was aimed at handing over significant portions of the Aravalli range to “close friends and industrialists” of the ruling party.

Listing the organisation’s demands, Chib said the 100 metre height criterion should be scrapped, the entire Aravalli region should be declared an ecologically sensitive area, the Supreme Court order should be reviewed, the government must withdraw its proposal, and all mining activities in the Aravallis should be completely banned.

The Congress party has been strongly opposing the government’s recent move to redefine the Aravalli range, describing it as environmentally dangerous and irreversible.