Prayagraj, 12 June (HS): The Congress party's nationwide

movement against the central government's policies has intensified. A massive

protest was held today under the aegis of the Congress party in the Handia

Assembly constituency of Prayagraj. Massive gathering was witnessed to protest

the Modi government's permission to Gautam Adani to cut down approximately 12

million trees in Great Nicobar. In the same vein, the Handia Assembly Congress

launched a massive signature campaign. Congress workers marched on foot from

the Handia police station to the Handia tehsil, raising strong anti-government

slogans, and staged a sit-in in the Handia tehsil premises.

The protest was led by Congress political affairs committee member,

and ex-AICC representative Shekhar Bahuguna, while the program was overseen by

Om Prakash Tiwari, a member of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

Shekhar Bahuguna alleges that the government is using

national defense as an excuse to remove 161 square kilometers of endangered

forest and coral reefs. He claims the major motivation is to allow corporations

like as Adani to establish commercial hotels and casinos. He claimed that the

BJP's argument that the Great Nicobar Island project is crucial is a lie,

intended to benefit businessman Gautam Adani. The Congress party initiated a

signature drive, encouraging locals to sign a petition calling for the

preservation of the island's natural resources and the Shompen indigenous

community. He said that the initiative was meant to promote large-scale

commercial development, such as hotels and casinos, and that over 1.5 crore

trees, historic rainforests, and coral reefs were at risk.

Modi government has given permission to Gautam Adani to cut

about 1 crore 20 lakh trees in Great Nicobar, against which the Congress party

is carrying out a nationwide agitation. In the same sequence, Handia Assembly

Congress organised a signature campaign programme. Ramesh Dubey, Shashikant

Harijan, Hansraj Yadav, Sitaram Yadav, Mithilesh Maurya, Rajendra Prasad Bind,

Sajeevan Bind, along with a large number of Congress members were present in

Handia, raising anti-government slogans.

Under the leadership of Shekhar Bahuguna, member of Indian

National Congress and under the supervision of Om Prakash Tiwari, member of

Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, a large number of Congressmen protested. The

program was presided over by District Congress President trans-Ganga Ashfaq

Ahmed. In-charge of Assembly Handia and Vice President of Central District

Congress Committee Prayagraj was present on the occasion.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi