Shivraj Chouhan calls tribal home demolitions in MP constituency ‘injustice’, seeks action

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday condemned the demolition of 12 tribal homes in Madhya Pradesh’s Kosmi village, calling it “oppression and injustice” and demanding action against the officials responsible.

Chouhan visited the village in Budhni assembly constituency, which falls within his Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, and met families from the Barela tribal community who said they had been living there for years.

“The limits of oppression and injustice have been crossed in my constituency,” he said, describing the distress of families whose homes had been razed.

Women broke down as Chouhan arrived at the village. He sat with the affected families, heard their complaints and spoke to Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal.

According to a statement from Chouhan’s office, forest and district administration officials had attempted similar action earlier, but he had instructed them not to demolish the homes.

The minister questioned how the demolition had proceeded despite his earlier intervention. He also spoke to state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and said he would raise the matter with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Chouhan alleged that the damage extended beyond the houses, claiming that crops had been destroyed and a well filled with soil. He demanded action against the forest personnel responsible and expressed displeasure that no senior forest department or district administration official was present during his visit.

“We will make every possible effort to secure justice for the affected families,” he said, adding that the demolished homes would be rebuilt and food and temporary accommodation arranged until permanent housing was available.

Forest department sources, however, defended the operation as action against illegal huts and cultivation on forest land. According to their account, a plantation was established in 2021, after which 10 tribal families from Singhpur allegedly destroyed it, began cultivation and erected huts.

Forest offence cases were registered and eviction notices issued before the structures were removed, the sources said. The official account referred to 10 families, while reports from the village said 12 houses were demolished.

Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh Assembly Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar alleged that infighting within the BJP government was affecting tribal families.

“Due to the infighting within the BJP government, poor tribal families face the threat of being rendered homeless,” he said.

The demolition has triggered a dispute over the treatment of the affected families and the forest department’s action, with Chouhan seeking accountability and officials citing alleged encroachment on forest land.