The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeatedly accused the Congress of cutting forests and harming nature, but a closer look at their own environmental record under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership reveals a troubling pattern of ecological destruction, policy dilution, and prioritization of corporate interests over the environment and tribal rights. While the BJP points fingers, the numbers and facts tell a different story—one of rampant deforestation, weakened environmental laws, and suppressed dissent. This essay examines the BJP’s environmental track record and contrasts it with the Congress’s legacy of protective legislation, exposing the hypocrisy behind the BJP’s accusations.
From 2014 to 2023, India lost approximately 1.5 lakh hectares of forest land to industrial projects and infrastructure development under the Modi government. In 2022 alone, the BJP-led central government approved 12,496 forest clearance requests for non-forestry activities—up from just 577 in 2018—demonstrating an alarming leniency, with less than 1% of such requests rejected between 2014 and 2020. This “ease of business” approach has come at a steep ecological cost, prioritizing corporate interests over India’s biodiversity.
The BJP’s 2023 amendment to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, narrowed the definition of forests, potentially stripping protection from 25% of India’s forest cover. This move sparked such concern that the Supreme Court had to intervene to safeguard these vital ecosystems. Meanwhile, the BJP’s 2019 draft Indian Forest Act sought to undermine the landmark Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, granting forest officials unchecked powers to arrest and seize property, effectively sidelining the rights of Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities. Though withdrawn after protests, the draft exposed the BJP’s intent to prioritize corporate access to forests over indigenous rights.
The BJP’s environmental negligence is starkly visible in its ruled states. In Chhattisgarh, the pristine Hasdeo Arand forests face coal mining, endangering over 2 lakh trees. Adivasi protests have been met with arrests, and activists silenced, while the BJP pushes corporate agendas over tribal welfare. In Gujarat, the BJP’s model state, thousands of hectares of forest land have been diverted for projects linked to conglomerates like Adani, with Mundra’s mangroves sacrificed for “development.” Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP-backed Aarey forest destruction for a metro shed felled over 2,700 trees, choking Mumbai’s green lung and displacing wildlife despite widespread protests.
In Assam, Kaziranga’s forests, home to the endangered one-horned rhino, face encroachment and illegal logging under BJP’s lax oversight. Projects are fast-tracked, shrinking habitats and enabling poaching. Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, the BJP’s Char Dham project has felled over 50,000 trees in the eco-sensitive Himalayan region, triggering landslides and polluting rivers. These examples highlight a consistent pattern: the BJP sacrifices ecology for infrastructure, ignoring long-term environmental and human costs.
The BJP’s policies have also jeopardized indigenous communities. The Great Nicobar Island project threatens 130 square kilometers of forest for an airport and port, endangering the habitat of the Shompen tribe. Environmental clearances were rushed, and activists silenced, underscoring the BJP’s disregard for tribal rights. The FRA, a Congress-era law empowering Adivasis, has been undermined by the BJP’s slow implementation. By 2024, only 24.85 lakh titles were distributed out of 50.26 lakh claims, with the disposal rate dropping from 87.72% to 84.44% in five years.
Coastal ecosystems have not been spared either. The BJP’s 2019 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) amendments reduced the No Development Zone from 200 meters to 50 meters, opening coastlines to commercial projects. This threatens coral reefs, mangroves, and coastal biodiversity, reversing Congress-era protections for these fragile ecosystems. In BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, illegal sand mining has ravaged riverbeds and forests, with the Yamuna and Ganga ecosystems on the brink of collapse due to lax enforcement.
The BJP’s broader environmental governance record is equally dismal. India’s rank in the Environmental Performance Index slid from 125 in 2012 to 180 in 2022, reflecting worsening air pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Fifteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities in 2018 were in India, yet the BJP continues to weaken oversight. Between 2015 and 2017, 146 of 206 polluting industries were exempted from inspections, and State Pollution Control Boards were stripped of authority. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 50% of India’s rivers were polluted by 2022, a crisis exacerbated by the BJP’s inaction.
The BJP has also suppressed environmental dissent. Activists like Disha Ravi have been arrested, Thoothukudi protesters killed, and green groups placed under online surveillance. In contrast, Congress upheld free speech and empowered environmental advocacy. The BJP’s 2018 draft National Forest Policy pushed forest privatization, sidelining tribal communities, and was only withdrawn after public outcry. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP approved mining in Mahan forests, ignoring tribal FRA claims until the Supreme Court intervened.
The Congress, despite its flaws, laid a strong foundation for environmental protection. The Forest Rights Act of 2006 empowered Adivasis, the Environment Protection Act of 1986 set robust standards, and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was strengthened to enforce green laws. Congress balanced infrastructure with ecology, protected eco-sensitive zones, and cracked down on environmental crimes. Its manifesto emphasizes restoring tribal rights and halting deforestation, presenting a clear commitment to sustainability.
In contrast, the BJP’s manifesto sidesteps forest rights, ignores coal phase-out, and avoids decarbonizing heavy industries. Modi’s “green” claims at global forums are undermined by manipulated forest cover data, which includes plantations and urban parks to mask real deforestation (253,179 hectares cleared from 2008 to 2019). The BJP’s accusations against Congress are a distraction from its own record of ecological devastation, driven by a corporate-first agenda.
The evidence is clear: the BJP’s policies have accelerated deforestation, weakened environmental protections, and marginalized tribal communities. From Hasdeo to Nicobar, Aarey to Kaziranga, the BJP’s prioritization of corporate interests over ecology has left India’s forests, rivers, and wildlife in peril. Meanwhile, the Congress’s legacy of inclusive laws and balanced development stands in stark contrast. The BJP’s finger-pointing at Congress is a calculated move to deflect scrutiny from its own failures. India’s environment deserves better—a government that protects nature, not one that sells it off. It’s time to call out the BJP’s bluff and demand accountability for the sake of our forests, tribes, and future generations.
