Congress Calls Rijiju “Minister for Defamation” Over Claim on Rahul Gandhi’s Andaman Scuba Dive
Congress criticises Rijiju over remarks on Rahul Gandhi’s Andaman scuba dive claim.
A political controversy erupted on Monday after Congress leader Manickam Tagore strongly criticised Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his claim regarding Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s scuba diving visit in the Andaman Sea. The exchange has further intensified the ongoing political sparring between the Congress and the ruling BJP-led NDA over development and environmental issues linked to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The controversy began after Kiren Rijiju alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s scuba diving activity in the Andaman Sea reportedly involved an expenditure of ₹26 crore. Rijiju claimed that the incident was later amplified by what he described as an “ecosystem” spreading misleading narratives linking the activity to marine life and environmental concerns.
Rijiju further questioned the intent behind Gandhi’s political messaging, stating that such actions and their promotion were misleading and harmful to national interests. He suggested that such narratives could negatively influence perceptions about development projects and broader national growth priorities.
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Responding sharply, Congress MP Manickam Tagore rejected the claim as “absurd” and accused Rijiju of acting like a “Minister for Defamation.” He argued that scuba diving is a common tourist activity in the Andaman Islands and questioned the credibility of the alleged ₹26 crore expenditure, asking whether every tourist engaging in diving would be assumed to incur similar costs.
Tagore also alleged that the statement was politically motivated, suggesting it was aimed either at diverting attention from environmental and governance concerns linked to the proposed Great Nicobar development project or at undermining criticism raised by the opposition. He further questioned whether such remarks were intended to discourage tourism in the region.
The dispute comes amid continuing tensions over Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Great Nicobar development project. Gandhi has previously described the initiative as a serious threat to ecological balance and tribal rights, while the Congress maintains that development must not come at the cost of environmental protection and indigenous communities’ livelihoods.
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