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Vijay Shah, who hold multiple portfolios in the MP government, has been absent from the public limelight ever since his remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi surfaced. (File)
In his first public assignment since triggering outrage with his remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who had briefed the media during Operation Sindoor, Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Kunwar Vijay Shah has been deputed to Dewas by CM Mohan Yadav to assess the fallout of a controversial eviction drive inside the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary.
Shah, who is now being investigated by a Supreme Court-ordered SIT, comprising senior police officers from the state, has been absent from the public eye after an FIR was registered against him for his comments referring to Colonel Qureshi as “the sister of terrorists” during a public meeting in Mhow on May 11.
Later, Shah had apologised thrice and was pulled up by the Supreme Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Meanwhile, there has been unrest across Khategaon tehsil after the the Forest Department cleared on June 23, what it described as “illegal encroachments”, over 82 hectares of sanctuary land, demolishing kachha dwellings and houses reportedly built by tribal families. Officials claimed due process was followed, including the issuance of notices a month in advance.
Tribal rights groups and political leaders have planned protests over the issue.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, “Referring to an incident involving Forest Department action in the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary area of Dewas, Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Kunwar Vijay Shah has been directed to visit the site, assess the situation, and ensure every possible help is extended to the affected families.”
Yadav said that the “Forest Department has also been instructed to avoid any action that may cause inconvenience to people during the monsoon season. All welfare schemes in the state are being implemented following due procedure and ensuring that benefits reach the genuinely needy.”
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A demonstration had been planned on June 27, and another on June 29 by Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS).
According to district officials, approximately 50 families are supposed to receive `20,000 each as compensation, along with a six-month ration supply and one month of cooked meals. Apart from this, housing scheme benefits and construction of a new road in the area were also promised.
While tribal communities protested what they called “arbitrary displacement”, several Eco Development Committees held a counter-rally supporting the Forest Department, saying that their livelihoods depended on forest produce like mahua and tendu leaves, which were threatened by the alleged encroachment.
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