In Rajasthan, minister’s ‘DNA test to check if Hindu’ remark met with a protest — featuring blood samples

“There is immense anger against Madan Dilawar’s comments. Until he resigns and apologises to the community, we will not let it go,” Roat said, adding that the minister has committed a grave mistake and the party will raise the issue in the state Assembly as well as before Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament.

The controversy broke out on June 21 after Dilawar, while responding to a question on the tribal leader’s earlier remarks that he and his supporters were not Hindu, said: “Hain ke nahi hain, woh toh unke poorwajon se pooch lenge … aur Hindu nahi hain woh toh phir unke DNA ki jaanch kara lenge, unke baap ki aulad hain ke nahi woh (We will ask his ancestors whether he is a Hindu or not … and if (he says) he is not a Hindu, then we’ll get his DNA tested whether he is his father’s son or not).”

At Saturday’s protest, where he was joined by party MLA from Dungarpur Umesh Meena as well as Congress MLAs Ramkesh Meena (Gangapur) and Ghanshyam (Todabhim), Roat reiterated he does not fall under the Hindu varna system.

“Our country’s Constitution gives everyone the freedom to follow any religion or not…We do not oppose any religion but we indeed say that we do not come under any religion. Why should anyone have a problem? The BJP leaders should end the politics of religion and stop misleading the tribals,” he said. He added that the community is sending their hair, nails, etc. to Dilawar by post so that he can get their DNA tested.

Reacting to the protest, Dilawar repeated his earlier stance. “The tribals are a part of our community. They were Hindus, are Hindus, and will remain Hindus,” he said.

Other state BJP leaders, however, avoided commenting on the row, which comes as the bypolls for five Assembly seats are set to be held soon.

The BAP was formed out of the Bharatiya Tribal Party in September 2023. Like BTP, it advocates the creation of a ‘Bhil Pradesh’.

The community has consolidated under Roat and the BAP in some pockets. Against BTP’s two MLAs in the previous Assembly, the BAP now has three MLAs and one MP, with Roat defeating Congress rebel and BJP candidate Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya in the Banswara Lok Sabha seat.

With Roat vacating his Chorasi Assembly seat to sit in Parliament, BAP’s figure may only go up.