The Hindu reports: I’m not an expert on the environment. I can’t plant a tree to save my life (or the planet). I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t endanger a species that is clearly labelled ‘endangered species’.
I mean, if a basket is labelled “dust bin’, wouldn’t you use it as a dust bin?I am also no defence expert. I can’t tell you how India can defend its enlarged military installations on Nicobar against China’s DF-17 hypersonic missiles. But here’s the thing: I don’t need any expertise to defend the project.
Background
The intellectual prowess of a sea sponge is enough to conclude that Rahul — no matter what he says, and even before he says it — is wrong.The Great Nicobar project | Between the sea and the state For instance, Rahul keeps repeating that the whole island is being gifted to a ‘dani’. I don’t know who or what a ‘dani’ is. But I’m certain it couldn’t be worse than handing over the Indian Ocean to China, which will certainly happen if we don’t cut down 1 crore trees on Nicobar.Checkmate ChinaI don’t know if there is any truth to the allegation — coming from highly placed (WhatsApp) sources — that Rahul is a Chinese agent.
Key facts
- I can’t plant a tree to save my life (or the planet).
- I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t endanger a species that is clearly labelled ‘endangered species’.
- I mean, if a basket is labelled “dust bin’, wouldn’t you use it as a dust bin?I am also no defence expert.
- I can’t tell you how India can defend its enlarged military installations on Nicobar against China’s DF-17 hypersonic missiles.
What this means
I also don’t know, and don’t care, how much of Indian territory China grabbed in 2020. Don’t ask me where our maritime power projection was hiding when America sank a visiting frigate in the Indian Ocean — an ocean named after your and my citizenship (until the NRC).But I know India’s strategic national interest when I see it, and I’ve no doubt destroying 130 sq. of our most pristine tropical rainforest is the best option for India to checkmate China.
It will discipline China by establishing our dominance over the Strait of Sundakka — a maritime chokepoint through which 89.99% of Chinese imports transit.Incidentally, I was in Jingjangjung last week for a two-day conference on the Indian Ocean. I could see Chinese officials literally quaking in their boots the moment I said ‘Nicobar’. They began pleading with me to sway the Indian public opinion against this project.On the first day itself, during the buffet lunch, while I was busy hunting for Gobi Manchurian, a Chinese agent — an authentic Chinese Chinese agent, not Indian Chinese agent like Rahul — cornered me.“Can you do me a small favour?” he asked.“I might,” I said.
Originally reported by The Hindu. This story has been edited and re-presented by BRIC Team.
