Modi seeks roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham

New Delhi: Paying tribute to the tribals massacred by the British Army in 1913 in Rajasthan's Mangarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked Rajasthan and the governments of neighbouring states for a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham, a memorial to a tribal uprising against the British, an event that he said has not been given its place in history.

Addressing a gathering of Bhil Adivasis and members of other tribes at the Mangarh Dham in Banswara district in the presence of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat chief ministers, Ashok Gehlot, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhupendra Patel, respectively, on the dais, Mr Modi asked the CMs to hold detailed discussions and prepare a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham. He also asked the Maharashtra government to join in the effort.

The Mangarh Dham, a memorial for around 1,500 tribals massacred by the British Army in 1913, is located in Rajasthan’s Banswara district along the Gujarat border. The region has a large tribal population. The massacred tribals were being led by social reformer and tribal leader Govind Guru.

At the gathering, Mr Modi said: "The four states together under the leadership of the Centre can develop the memorial more so that tribal leader Govind Guru’s place, Mangarh Dham, can create an identity at the global level."

The event is being seen as the BJP's outreach to the tribal community ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat in the next few weeks and in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh next year.

The PM's visit is likely to have an impact on Assembly constituencies in the northern parts of Gujarat, where Assembly elections are going to be held.

In Rajasthan, eight districts -- Banswara, Dungarpur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Sirohi, Pratapgarh and Pali -- fall under the scheduled area that has a total of 37 Assembly constituencies, of which 21 are held by the BJP, 11 by the Congress, two by the Bhartiya Tribal Party and three by Independents.

Highlighting the contribution of tribals in the freedom struggle, the Prime Minister said that the Centre is working with a clear policy for the development of tribals across the country, from Rajasthan and Gujarat to the Northeast. Water, electricity and health care, among other facilities, are being provided and they are being linked to employment opportunities, while forest wealth is also being protected, Mr Modi said.

Tribals had started the freedom struggle even before the revolt of 1857, he said, adding that the community has a rich history of sacrifice in the freedom movement.

Mr Modi also said that a discussion regarding the comprehensive development of Mangarh Dham has been held here. The Prime Minister said he believes that the development of the dham will make this area "an awakened place for the inspiration of the new generation".

Some may call it a national monument or any name can be given to it, but the Central government and tribal communities in all these four states have a direct connection to the dham, Mr Modi said.

On Govind Guru, Mr Modi said he was a social reformer, revolutionary, saint and religious leader and he not only opened a front against the atrocities under British rule but was also against social evils.

Addressing the event, Gujarat's chief minister claimed that the massacre of tribals at Mangarh was more gruesome than that at Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab, while his Rajasthan counterpart urged the PM to declare Mangarh a national monument as well as for a review of the railway project between Ratlam-Dungarpur and Banswara, which was started by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

Mr Gehlot said Mr Modi gets respect in the world because he is the Prime Minister of a country where the roots of democracy have been strong.

He said: "When Mr Modi goes abroad, he gets so much respect. He gets the respect because he is the Prime Minister of the country of Gandhi, where the roots of democracy run deep and where, even after more than 70 years of Independence, democracy is alive," he said.

Interestingly, the Press Information Bureau tweeted: "PM@narendarmodi declares Mangadh Dham as National Monument,#Rajasthan”, while the programme was still in progress. Later, the tweet was deleted.