Jaipur, July 17 (IANS) Thousands of tribal people from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli gathered for a grand convention at the famous Mangarh Dham in Banswara on Friday.
Held under the banner of the ‘Bhil Pradesh Mukti Morcha’ (Bhil Pradesh Liberation Front) as a social and non‑political event, the gathering saw a unanimous demand for the creation of a new ‘Bhil Pradesh’ state.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajkumar Roat, MP for the Banswara‑Dungarpur Lok Sabha constituency, stated that governments across the four states had neglected the region, leading to its backwardness. He alleged that all governments had treated the tribal community unfairly.
Vinod Kumar Kharadi, District Vice President of the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), explained that the event’s primary objective was to raise a voice for tribal rights and to forcefully present the demand for a separate ‘Bhil Pradesh’ state to the government.
He noted that even after so many years of independence, tribal areas have failed to see development.
Currently, the tribal community is fragmented across state borders; those living in border areas, in particular, face disadvantages at every level. Kharadi stressed that this was not a political event but a fight for the community’s existence and rights.
“We demand that tribals receive their due rights and that the scattered tribal regions be consolidated to form a separate ‘Bhil Pradesh,’ thereby protecting the people in border areas from the hardships they currently face,” he said.
The entire event concluded peacefully and in a disciplined manner under the supervision of organising committee member Bhanwarlal Parmar and members of the tribal community. It was noted that this grand conference is held annually on July 17.
Speakers addressed the gathering from the stage. District Convener of the Bhil Pradesh Mukti Morcha, Rajesh Vasuniya, along with State Convener Ravindra Barjod, Hiralal Dama, and others, were present. They stated that while provisions for tribal reservation in jobs exist, the youth of the community are not receiving the full benefits on the ground.
Deep concern was also expressed regarding instances of oppression and harassment faced by tribals in various sectors.
Member of Parliament Rajkumar Roat could not attend the event as he was in Switzerland; however, he conveyed a message via phone stating that the governments of four states had neglected the region, causing it to remain backward. He remarked that all governments had treated the tribal people unfairly.
People are once again strongly demanding a separate ‘Bhil Pradesh’, a demand driven by government failures.
Several prominent MLAs and leaders from the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) participated in the event, including Kamlesh Dodiyar (MLA, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh), Thavarchand Meena (MLA, Dhariyawad), Umesh Meena (MLA, Aspur), Anil Katara (MLA, Chorasi) and Jaykrishna Patel (MLA, Bagidora).
–IANS
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