Jaipur, March 30 -- The Union government has clarified that there is currently no proposal under consideration to declare Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan's Banswara district a national monument. Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, while replying to a question raised by BJP MP Mannalal Rawat in the Lok Sabha last week, said that no such proposal is presently under active consideration. The minister also stated that there are no plans to produce a film or web series on tribal historical sacrifices, including those associated with Birsa Munda or Mangarh Dham. The clarification comes after the National Monuments Authority (NMA) had recommended in 2022 that Mangarh Hill be granted national monument status. The report, prepared under then NMA chairman Tarun Vijay, was submitted to the Union ministry of culture on July 6, 2022. Mangarh Dham holds emotional and historical significance for tribal communities across Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Often referred to as the "Jallianwala Bagh of Rajasthan," the site commemorates the massacre of around 1,500 unarmed Bhil tribals by British forces on November 17, 1913. Over 150,000 Bhil tribals had gathered at Mangarh Hill under the leadership of tribal leader and freedom fighter Govind Guru, when British forces opened fire on the assembly, leading to heavy casualties. The demand to accord national monument status to Mangarh Dham has been longstanding among tribal communities, who see it as a symbol of sacrifice and resistance. At the time of the NMA recommendation, then minister of state for culture Arjun Ram Meghwal had indicated that the proposal would be taken forward positively, stressing the need to recognise unsung tribal heroes. Reacting sharply, Dungarpur-Banswara MP and Bharat Adivasi Party leader Rajkumar Roat criticised the Centre's stand, calling it "negative and insulting." Roat said Mangarh Dham is the largest martyrdom site of the Bhil tribal community and termed the Centre's response in the Lok Sabha on granting it national recognition as "negative and insulting." He alleged that the government's stand disrespects the sacrifice of over 1,500 tribal martyrs. He further said that the recent programmes held at the site by leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with chief ministers of the three states, appeared to be limited to vote bank politics. Highlighting the historical importance of Mangarh, Roat said the site holds immense pride not just for Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, but for the entire country, including Maharashtra, but due to the indifferent attitude of governments towards tribal communities, it has not received the recognition it deserves. He reiterated his demand that Mangarh Dham be granted national monument status. Earlier, on November 1, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged the governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to jointly prepare a roadmap for the development of Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan, a site of a tribal uprising against the British in 1913. Addressing the 'Mangarh Dham Ki Gaurav Gatha' programme at the dham, Modi had said that the four states, under the leadership of the Centre, can develop the site further so that it gains global identity. "All of us have a strong desire for the magnificent expansion of Mangarh Dham and for this, the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments need to work together. It is my request to all the state governments to hold a detailed discussion so that Govind Guru's place too can create its identity in the whole world," the PM added....