Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, who has been at the centre of a storm following his controversial remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, re-entered the public domain in a politically sensitive assignment.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has deputed Shah to the Dewas district to assess the fallout of a contentious eviction drive inside the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary, which has triggered unrest among tribal communities and drawn the attention of rights groups and political activists alike.
This marks Shah’s first major public appearance since he became embroiled in a serious controversy last month, when he referred to Colonel Qureshi — who had led media briefings during the high-stakes Operation Sindoor — as “the sister of terrorists” during a political rally in Mhow on May 11.
The statement, widely condemned across political and civil society circles, resulted in an FIR being lodged against Shah.
He later issued three public apologies following severe censure from both the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court, which has since ordered an SIT (Special Investigation Team) comprising senior state police officers to probe his actions.
Amid this backdrop, the controversial eviction in the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary has only heightened tensions. On June 23, the Forest Department carried out a large-scale clearance operation, demolishing structures it claimed were “illegal encroachments” across more than 82 hectares of protected sanctuary land.
These included several kachha (mud-and-thatch) houses allegedly built by tribal families. Officials maintained that the eviction followed legal protocols, including the issuance of formal notices to the occupants nearly a month prior.
However, tribal rights organisations and local political leaders have vehemently opposed the action, arguing that it amounted to forced displacement without adequate rehabilitation or consultation.
Two protest demonstrations have already been scheduled — one on June 27 and another on June 29 — by the Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a vocal tribal youth organization with a strong grassroots presence in Madhya Pradesh.
In response to the escalating situation, CM Mohan Yadav issued a statement affirming that Minister Vijay Shah has been instructed to personally visit the site in Dewas, evaluate the on-ground conditions, and ensure that necessary aid and relief measures are extended to affected families.
“Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Kunwar Vijay Shah has been asked to assess the ground situation in Kheoni. He will make sure that all families affected by the Forest Department’s action are provided with every possible assistance,” Yadav said.
The Chief Minister also emphasized that the Forest Department has been advised to refrain from initiating further eviction-related actions during the ongoing monsoon season, citing humanitarian concerns.
“Our government is committed to ensuring that all welfare schemes reach the truly deserving beneficiaries. Due diligence is being followed in implementing every initiative,” he added.
District officials confirmed that approximately 50 displaced families are slated to receive ₹20,000 each as immediate compensation. Additionally, the state government has promised a package that includes six months’ worth of dry ration, one month of cooked meals, and access to various housing schemes.
The construction of a new road to connect the remote areas affected by the eviction has also been announced, as part of the rehabilitation effort.
Despite these assurances, tensions remain high. Several tribal families and rights groups have denounced the eviction as arbitrary and unjust, claiming it ignored the longstanding relationship between indigenous communities and their forest lands. Many allege that no alternative housing arrangements or resettlement plans were offered in advance.
Adding complexity to the issue, several Eco Development Committees (EDCs) — local cooperative bodies comprising forest dwellers — have come out in support of the Forest Department’s actions.
Members of these committees held a counter-protest, asserting that the alleged encroachments were harming the ecological balance and threatening the livelihood of families dependent on forest produce like mahua flowers and tendu leaves.
“Illegal settlements not only damage the forest ecosystem but also undermine the earnings of those who rely on it sustainably,” one EDC representative said.
As the protests and counter-protests continue to gain momentum, the state government faces a dual challenge: handling the political fallout of Minister Shah’s controversies while also navigating the legal, environmental, and humanitarian dimensions of tribal displacement.
Whether Shah’s visit to Dewas will quell tensions or further inflame them remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary eviction has now become a flashpoint — not only for tribal rights but also for political accountability at the highest levels of the Madhya Pradesh government.