Explained: What's the Controversy Around 'Tribal Rights Day' at Pandavas' Site in Rajasthan's Banswara?

Banswara- A controversy has erupted in Rajasthan's Banswara district over the proposed celebration of 'Tribal Rights Day' at Ghotiya Amba Dham, a revered site associated with the Pandavas.

The event, organized by the Bhartiya Adivasi Party, is being met with opposition due to the planned participation of MP Rajkumar Roat, who previously made a statement claiming that Adivasis are not Hindus. The opposition stems from local Hindu groups, who are questioning Roat’s involvement at a Hindu religious site if he does not consider Adivasis part of the Hindu faith.

Ghotiya Amba Dham is believed to be a sacred site where the Pandavas spent time during their exile (Agyatvas). The place holds great religious significance, with statues of the Pandavas, an ancient Shiva temple, and a holy pond where Hindus perform rituals like asthi visarjan (immersion of ashes). This connection to Hindu traditions has made the site a focal point of the controversy.

The Bhartiya Adivasi Party has been organizing 'Tribal Rights Day' in various districts to raise awareness about the constitutional rights of Adivasis. Events have already been held in Udaipur, Pratapgarh, and other regions, with the Banswara event being the latest in the series. The purpose of these gatherings is to mobilize tribal communities and educate them on their legal entitlements.

Background of the Controversy

The conflict began after MP Rajkumar Roat, representing the Bhartiya Adivasi Party, along with the Bhil Pradesh Mukti Morcha, declared during a public meeting at Mangarh Dham that Adivasis do not identify as Hindus. Additionally, some speakers at the event reportedly made remarks about Hindu deities and called on women to stop wearing sindoor and bindis, which further angered local Hindu communities.

As a result, the Hindu Dharma Jagran Samiti, led by its president Devilal Rawat, submitted a memorandum to the district collector, demanding that Roat apologize for his remarks before being allowed to hold any event at the Hindu religious site. Rawat stated that if Adivasis do not consider themselves Hindus, then their ancestors would not have performed asthi visarjan at Ghotiya Amba's holy pond.

Kamalkant Katara, convener of the Adivasi Aarakshan Manch, also voiced opposition on social media. Katara pointed out that Ghotiya Amba is home to ancient statues of the Pandavas and a Shiva temple, where Hindu rituals are performed. He argued that those who do not consider themselves Hindus should not hold events at such a revered site. Katara demanded either a public apology from Roat for his previous statements or a relocation of the event to another venue.

In response to the backlash, MP Rajkumar Roat took to social media, reposting Kamalkant Katara’s Facebook post on X (formerly Twitter). Roat accused certain groups of trying to incite unrest in the peaceful Adivasi region by manipulating the sentiments of the local population. He urged his followers not to engage with such individuals and called for legal action against those attempting to disrupt the harmony of the area. Roat further referred to these same elements as the ones responsible for escalating the peaceful Kakri movement into a violent protest.