‘Save Aravalli’ movement intensifies across Rajasthan; 1,000-km Padyatra announced

The Save the Aravalli movement gained significant momentum in Rajasthan on Monday, with activists of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) holding demonstrations at various locations, including Udaipur and Jodhpur, while a group of youths announced plans for a 1,000-km padyatra to generate mass awareness for the cause.

A large number of NSUI members—the student wing of the Congress—staged a massive demonstration at the Udaipur District Collectorate. The protest saw mild scuffles and jostling between demonstrators and the police.

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Several youths were rounded up, though most were later released, according to official reports reaching the state headquarters.

Apart from NSUI, volunteers of the Karni Sena and members of other organisations also held protests at the Collectorate and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President through district authorities.

Demonstrations and gheraos were also reported at the district collectorates in Chittorgarh, Jodhpur, and several other towns.

In Jodhpur, protesters turned aggressive when police installed barricades to prevent them from entering the Collectorate. The youths attempted to scale the barricades and clashed with police personnel. Mild force was used to disperse the crowd, official sources said.

Meanwhile, a group of youths led by former student union leader Nirmal Chaudhary announced the launch of a padyatra from Mount Abu, near the Rajasthan–Gujarat border, beginning Wednesday.

The 1,000-km march will pass through cities and villages across several districts, featuring a series of awareness programmes aimed at mobilising public support for the protection of the Aravalli range.