Speaking to The Indian Express, Pilot said illegal mining continues unabated at hundreds of locations in the Aravalli region despite official claims of strict action.
Congress National General Secretary and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Thursday accused the BJP-led government of endangering the Aravalli range and failing to curb illegal mining, saying the issue goes far beyond paperwork and court affidavits to what is visible on the ground.
The protest also marked the first occasion on which Pilot participated in a political demonstration alongside his son, Araan Pilot, who joined him during the march.
Addressing the “Save Aravalli, Save Future” foot march organised by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Rajasthan in Jaipur, Pilot said the Aravalli range, spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi, acts as a natural shield for a large part of North India and is crucial for environmental balance and water security. He questioned the “compulsions” under which, he alleged, a mountain range thousands of years old was being pushed towards destruction.
Referring to data from the Forest Survey of India, Pilot criticised the government’s stance in the Supreme Court on redefining the Aravalli hills. He said that while over 1.18 lakh hills are below 100 metres in height and only 1,048 are above it, defining hills only above 100 metres as Aravalli would leave 90 to 95 per cent of the range unprotected. He added that although new mining leases have been banned, thousands of cases of illegal mining have been registered in more than a dozen districts over the past two years, exposing what he described as a complete failure of enforcement. He also demanded rehabilitation for people affected by mining activities.
The NSUI foot march began outside the Jalupura police station and was led by state president Vinod Jakhar. Activists briefly carried him on their shoulders before the procession moved forward. The march, which was to reach the Collectorate, was stopped by police at the Government Hostel intersection, where protesters were told permission had been granted only up to that point. After a warning that further movement would invite action, the march was concluded.
The protest came a day after Gen Z activists led a torchlight march for the Aravallis from Rambagh Circle to Amar Jawan Jyoti. Activist Kartikeya Bhardwaj, who spearheaded the protest, said it was meant to be a wake-up call for Jaipur’s youth, warning that after the destruction of Dhol Bagh, the Aravallis were now under threat, and describing it as an attack on citizens’ right to clean air.