A controversy has erupted once again in Udaipur involving the demand for a separate Bhil Pradesh. The Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) has re-ignited this issue while BJP MP Mannalal Rawat has objected to the portrayal of the movement which took place at Mangarh Dham 111 years ago.

MP Rawat has opposed the information given in the Social Science textbook of Rajasthan State Board for the 9th grade and called it factually incorrect. He alleged that the Congress government has deliberately misrepresented this topic and said that, "the Mangarh movement was not for Bhil Pradesh but against social evils".

He has written to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma demanding a probe into the matter, following which the CM's office has launched an investigation. According to Rawat, the purpose of the Mangarh movement, led by Govind Guru Maharaj on November 17, 1913, was not to create a separate state for the upliftment of the Bhil community, as is stated in the textbook.

The textbook says that Govindgiri wanted to set up a Bhil state against feudal and colonial powers but this is incorrect, the BJP MP said, adding that as per one of Govindgiri’s famous hymns, he was against the British and was a proponent of unity. Citing research papers by experts, the MP said that this controversial remark should be removed from the textbook.

This controversy has reignited tribal issues in Rajasthan, sparking a new round of accusations and counter-accusations between political parties.