In Rajasthan, protests have been going over the state government’s decision to abolish 9 newly created districts. The BJP government in the state had on 28th December 2024 revoked the district status of 9 districts out of 17 and 3 divisions created by the erstwhile Congress government.
While the CM Bhajanlal Sharma-led government emphasised that the creation of these districts was neither in the public interest nor practical, several Muslims led by Qazi Syed Sharafat Ali took out a protest rally in Shahpura on Tuesday (20th January) against the revocation of this area district status. The “Aakrosh Rally” was taken out from Phuliya Gate and reached the office of Upkhand via Balaji’s Chhatri, Sadar Bazaar and Trimurti Chowk. Meanwhile, slogans were raised against MLA Lalaram Bewra and CM Sharma. Zila Bachao Sanghash Samiti joined the rally.
Before this, the members of the Property Dealer Association registered their protest by sitting on a hunger strike outside the subdivision office. The protest was organized under the leadership of Property Dealer Association President Rajendra Bohra in the presence of Sangharsh Samiti President Durga Lal Rajora and Convener Ramprasad Jat.
During the rally, the protesters garlanded the Barhat memorial and raised slogans demanding that Shahpura remain a district. Alongside the members of the Property Dealer Association, councillors and officials of the Bar Association also participated in the protest. Sangharsh Samiti general secretary Kamlesh Mundetia said that the movement is continuing peacefully and this struggle will continue until Shahpura gets back the district status.
On 28th December, the state government abolished 9 of the 17 districts established by the previous Congress dispensation, claiming they were neither feasible nor in the public interest.
A cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma dissolved three additional divisions implying that the state will now have seven divisions and 41 districts.
This, however, did not go well with the opposition Congress party and former minister Sukhram Vishnoi led a ‘mahapadav (large sit-in)’ outside the Sanchore Collectorate. The nine Rajasthan districts that have been abolished are Anupgarh, Dudu, Gangapur City, Jaipur Rural, Jodhpur Rural, Kekri, Neem Ka Thana, Sanchore, and Shahpura. Other than Shahpura, similar protests took place in Anupgarh, Neem Ka Thana, and other affected localities.
