AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava requires separate Bhil Pradesh

Chaitar Vasava, an AAP MLA from the Dediapada seat in Gujarat’s Narmada district, has raised the demand for a separate ‘Bhil Pradesh’ encompassing elements of Gujarat and the three neighboring states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. 

The first-time MLA from Scheduled Tribes reserved Dediapada seat claimed that there was a separate Bhil Pradesh earlier to the independence. He claimed that the state was divided and merged into Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra after independence. 

He asserted that these 4 states have 39 tribally predominate districts that collectively made up Bhil Pradesh.

According to Chaitar Vasava, these districts proceed to fall beneath the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution (which contains authorized tips concerning the administration and supervision of Scheduled Areas).

Vasava further talked about that numerous years up to now, Pratibha Patil, the then-president, had obtained a memorandum expressing this demand from a gaggle led by Chhotubhai Vasava. Notably, the seven-time MLA and Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) chief Chhotubhai Vasava had misplaced his bastion of Jhagadia to the BJP candidate Ritesh Vasava inside the state assembly elections held closing yr.

The AAP chief said, “We will continue to raise the demand for a separate Bhil Pradesh if you continue to treat the tribal people unjustly.”

The rights of tribal people, in response to Chaitar Vasava, have been being taken away. He alleged that 1000’s of acres of tribal land obtained away for numerous duties inside the Kevadia house of Gujarat’s Narmada district.

He claimed, “As a result, the local tribals are now relegated to working as labourers for Rs 280 per day. We are once again bringing up the demand for a separate Bhil Pradesh because our rights to our Jal, Jungle, and Jamin (water, forest, and land) are being taken away.”

Taking to Twitter, Chaitar Vasava shared a map of the ‘imaginary’ Bhil Pradesh claiming that it was issued by the Britishers and wrote, “Earlier the entire state was Bhil Pradesh, when the country became independent, the entire state was divided into districts with tribal population and divided into GJ, MH, MP, RJ. The demand for Bhil Pradesh is not only ours, it is the demand and dream of our forefathers! Many of our forefathers were martyred while fighting for this.”

पहले पूरा राज्य भील प्रदेश था जब देश आजाद हुआ तो पूरे राज्य को आदिवासी आबादी वाले जिलों में विभाजित कर GJ,MH,MP,RJ में बांटा गया था।
भीलप्रदेश की मांग ये सिर्फ हमारी ही नहीं ये हमारे पुरखों की मांग और सपना है!
इसके लिए हमारे कई पुरखे लड़ते लड़ते शहीद हुए!#भीलप्रदेश_हमारी_पहचान_है pic.twitter.com/4VqfMysg9M

— ChaitarVasava AAP (@Chaitar_Vasava) April 4, 2023
What is Bhilistan or Bhil Pradesh?

Like Khalistan, Bhilistan is a fictitious state that the separatists have carved out of their minds. The tribal belts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are included inside the territory that the AAP MLA has claimed.

According to Chaitar Vasava, Bhil Pradesh encompasses districts like Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Chittor, and Pratapgarh in Rajasthan. The imaginary state moreover consists of Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Jhabua, and Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, Bharwani in Maharashtra, and Dahod, Panchmahal, Narmada, Sabarkantha, and Banaskantha districts in Gujarat. 

BJP condemns AAP MLA’s ‘Bhil Pradesh’ demand

Mansukh Vasava, the BJP member of parliament from Bharuch, opposed the demand and asserted that it might end in chaos in numerous areas. Additionally, it’ll set off battle between tribals and non-tribals, which might ultimately hinder the execution of enchancment initiatives in tribal areas.

Somjibhai Damor, a former Dahod MP said that the AAP MLA should, instead of demanding a separate state, elevate factors the place the federal authorities is lacking and advocate measures on how welfare schemes could also be carried out further efficiently. 

Meanwhile, Congress tribal chief Anant Patel claimed that the AAP MLA’s statements regarding the Bhil Pradesh demand are alleged to garner the votes of the tribal neighborhood inside the forthcoming elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.