'Astonishing U-turn': Congress slams Centre for moving SC to 'stay hearings' on Great Nicobar project
The Congress party has criticized the Indian government for seeking a Supreme Court stay on Calcutta High Court proceedings regarding the Great Nicobar Island Project. The opposition alleges the project causes ecological damage and violates the Forest Rights Act.
Why it matters
The project represents a significant conflict between large-scale infrastructure development and environmental/tribal rights in India.
The Congress on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) slammed the Modi government for its "astonishing U-turn" of moving the Supreme Court to stay all proceedings in the Calcutta High Court on petitions against the Great Nicobar Island Project, and alleged that it is mindlessly going ahead with inflicting an "ecological disaster" on the country.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared the screenshot of a media report which stated that the Union government has approached the Supreme Court to stay further proceedings in the petitions pending final hearing before the Calcutta High Court, which allege that provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) were violated in obtaining consent for its ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project.
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