Aravalli Row Heats Up: Bhupendra Yadav and Ashok Gehlot Clash, Former CM Accused of ‘Three Lies’

Jaipur, Rajasthan: Political tensions in Rajasthan have escalated over the Aravalli mountain range following the Supreme Court’s new definition of the region. Congress has been targeting the BJP over mining issues, and in response, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav sharply criticized former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, accusing him of three major falsehoods regarding Aravalli mining activities.

During an interview with a private news channel, Minister Yadav claimed that Gehlot misrepresented facts about Aravalli mining during his tenure. The three alleged lies, according to Yadav, are:

1. Supreme Court Petition Misrepresentation: Gehlot claimed that a 2010 petition filed in the Supreme Court was dismissed, which Yadav refuted, stating that the decision was never rejected and the records confirm this.
2. Mining Approvals During Gehlot’s Tenure: Yadav alleged that the highest amount of mining permits in the Aravalli region were issued during Gehlot’s government. He sarcastically remarked that illegal mining was as “leaked” as exam papers during that period.
3. Illegal Mining Activities Exposed: Yadav stated that the illegal mining conducted under Gehlot’s administration has now been identified and is in the public domain, implying that Gehlot is most affected by the current crackdown on illegal mining.

Gehlot Fires Back
In response, former CM Ashok Gehlot accused Minister Yadav of misleading the public. Gehlot criticized Yadav’s claim that only 0.19% of the Aravalli region would be affected by mining, calling it a “misleading statement.” He further alleged that a central empowered committee, operational for 21 years and reporting directly to the Supreme Court, was disbanded under the current administration and replaced with a new committee fully controlled by the central government. Gehlot warned that such actions have shaken public trust and stated, “The people will never forgive such misguidance.”

The exchange underscores the growing political heat in Rajasthan surrounding environmental issues and mining in the Aravalli mountain range, a matter of national attention and ecological significance.