A district development meeting in Rajasthan's Dungarpur turned into a scene of high political drama on Monday when a heated verbal clash broke out between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Mannalal Rawat and Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Umesh Damor. The incident occurred during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) gathering, forcing security personnel to intervene and calm the situation.
How the Argument Erupted
The tension began at the very start of the meeting when BAP's Member of Parliament from Banswara, Rajkumar Roat, raised certain issues for discussion. Mannalal Rawat, the BJP MP from Udaipur, objected, insisting that the committee should only discuss Union government schemes as per the set agenda. This triggered a sharp exchange between the two parliamentarians.
Roat, who chairs the DISHA committee, countered Rawat's objection. "I am the chairman of the committee and every problem of the area that is related to the public can be discussed here," he asserted. The argument intensified further when Roat alleged that Rawat had attended the meeting with the sole intention of spoiling the atmosphere and obstructing the development of Dungarpur district.
The Confrontation Escalates
The situation took a more personal turn when Mannalal Rawat described himself as a "threatened elected public representative." At this point, BAP's Aspur constituency MLA, Umesh Damor, jumped into the fray, leading to a direct and aggressive verbal spat between Damor and Rawat.
Witnesses reported that the exchange grew increasingly hostile, culminating in Damor challenging Rawat. He was heard threatening the BJP MP, saying, "if you want to fight, come outside." This high-voltage political drama played out for approximately 15 minutes, bringing the official proceedings to a complete halt.
Order Restored, Meeting Resumes
Faced with the escalating confrontation, security personnel present at the venue stepped in to separate the two leaders. They were assisted by other members attending the meeting and senior administrative officers, who worked to pacify both sides. After calm was restored, the DISHA committee meeting resumed and continued smoothly for the remainder of its schedule.
The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including District Collector Ankit Kumar Singh, District Council Chief Executive Officer Hanuman Singh Rathore, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Mukesh Sankhla. Their presence was crucial in managing the fallout from the political altercation and ensuring the meeting could continue its development planning work for Dungarpur.
