Demolition of tribals’ houses in M.P. draws Shivraj’s anger; says ‘Mohan ji became CM with their votes’

Demolition of tribals’ houses in M.P. draws Shivraj’s anger; says ‘Mohan ji became CM with their votes’ The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh demolished the homes of roughly twelve tribal families in Koshi village on Thursday, 11 October, citing illegal encroachment on protected forest land. The families, all belonging to the Gond community, had lived in makeshift timber and thatch structures for generations..

Local officials said the clear‑cutting of trees and the erection of dwellings contravened the 2006 Forest Conservation Act, which bans settlement in designated reserve zones. Photographs released by the department show collapsed walls and scattered belongings, prompting an outcry among activists and residents alike. The demolition was carried out by a team of forest rangers, accompanied by police, under a court‑ordered notice served a fortnight earlier..

Officials claim they gave the occupants 48 hours to vacate, but villagers argue that the notice arrived after the demolition began, leaving no time for a proper response. The families were offered temporary shelter in a nearby government school, yet many reported that the provided space is inadequate, lacking basic sanitation and privacy. The episode has reignited long‑standing grievances over land rights and the marginalisation of tribal communities in central India..

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has presided over the state’s development agenda since 2005, responded within hours of the demolition, expressing “deep disappointment” and promising a “thorough investigation”. In a televised address, he condemned the “unnecessary use of force” and ordered the department to submit a detailed report to his office within ten days. The chief minister also directed the tribal welfare department to assess the families’ compensation and to ensure that no further displacement occurs without due process..

However, the chief minister’s remarks have been met with scepticism. Opposition leader Kamal Nath, a senior figure in the Indian National Congress, accused the government of “political theater” and demanded an independent inquiry. “If the administration truly cares for the tribal populace, it will not let such arbitrary demolitions happen under the pretext of forest protection,” Nath said at a press conference in Bhopal..

The Congress party has called for a sit‑in protest outside the state ariat, demanding that the affected families be reinstated in their homes or provided with suitable alternative land. The incident has also drawn criticism from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which issued a statement urging Madhya Pradesh to “adhere to the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006”. The Act recognises the rights of forest‑dwelling tribal peoples to occupy and cultivate land that they have traditionally used..

A senior official from the ministry warned that any violation could trigger legal challenges and possible central intervention. “The protection of tribal rights is non‑negotiable; any encroachment must be addressed through dialogue, not demolition,” the statement read. Legal experts point out that the Supreme Court has, in several judgments, upheld the necessity of prior consent from tribal councils before any forest‑related action is taken..

Professor Ramesh Singh of the National Law University, Jodhpur, noted that “the procedural safeguards outlined in the Forest Rights Act were designed precisely to prevent the kind of abrupt displacement we are witnessing in Koshi.” He added that the state’s reliance on a court order does not absolve it from ensuring that the affected families receive appropriate rehabilitation in line with statutory norms. Human rights organisations have rallied to the families’ cause. Amnesty International India released a brief condemning the demolition as “a violation of the right to adequate housing and cultural heritage”..

The group urged the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to investigate the incident. In a similar vein, the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum of India (IPFI) announced plans to file a Public Interest Litigation, asserting that the state’s actions contravene both national law and international conventions to which India is a signatory. On the ground, the displaced families have expressed a mixture of anger and resignation..

Elder Gopal Sahu, whose ancestral home was reduced to rubble, told reporters that his family has lived on the land for over four decades, cultivating millets and gathering forest produce. “We are not illegal occupants; the forest is our home, and the forest is our life,” he said, his voice shaking. Others fear that the demolition will exacerbate poverty and force migration to urban slums, where tribal migrants often face discrimination and lack of employment opportunities..

The state government has pledged to provide each family with a one‑room structure and a plot of land measuring 0.25 acre, as stipulated under the Forest Rights Act. Yet critics argue that the compensation is insufficient, given the loss of not only physical shelter but also intangible cultural ties to the forest. “A roof is not enough when your identity is rooted in the trees and the soil,” remarked Meena Devi, a local activist with the NGO Adivasi Sahayog..

She warned that without genuine land ownership, tribal communities remain vulnerable to future evictions. Political analysts note that the timing of the demolition is significant. It coincides with the approaching state elections, where the tribal vote is a decisive factor..

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has historically courted tribal electorates through welfare schemes, while the opposition seeks to capitalize on perceived governmental neglect. The chief minister’s public denouncement of the demolition could be an attempt to mitigate electoral fallout, especially after the recent resurgence of tribal protests in neighboring districts over mining concessions. Indeed, the incident has already sparked a wave of solidarity protests across.