Ex-RSS cadre breaks ‘Nirjala’ strike on Dy CM’s request:Says, ‘If Sihora district isn’t formed, I’ll give up water again’; out of ICU

Two days before the election, the then CM Shivraj Singh had spoken to me. He had a feeling that he would lose the election from here. He told me to tell everyone that we would make it a district. The elections were held, and Santosh Varkade also became an MLA. But, this issue was not raised with the seriousness it deserved. Pramod Sahu, a former RSS Pracharak and key leader of the Sihora District Formation movement, has been on a hunger strike since December 6. He even stopped drinking water on December 9, prompting doctors to admit him to the ICU on December 10. The movement seeks to make Sihora, currently a tehsil of Jabalpur district, a separate district. The demand has been ongoing for nearly 30 years, with past protests including lamp-lighting and partial burial (‘bhu-samadhi’). After his ICU admission, Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda met Sahu and asked him to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister. Sahu ended his water fast but continues his hunger strike. Question: Why was an indefinite fast (satyagraha) necessary? Why do you want Sihora to be made a district?
Answer: The issue of demanding a district has been ongoing since 1999. I was not here then. Before the assembly elections in 2003, this issue was raised vigorously. Many people were injured in that movement. Many people were beaten up. At that time, the then Digvijay government had accepted the demand to make it a district. At that time, Nityaniranjan Khamparia was the MLA here. Sihora district was also published in the gazette. At that time, the Sihora tehsil was not fragmented. It was undivided. There is a demand to make it a district. Such as Majhauli, Dhimarkheda, Bahoriband, Bakal, Pan Umaria, Salaundi, Godalpur, Gandhigram. All these places were part of the tehsil. Most of them were separated from Sihora and made into tehsils. We are demanding that Sihora, which has been India’s largest and oldest tehsil, be made a district. It has all the necessary things to be made a district. Question: Why did Sihora not become a district even after Digvijaya Singh accepted it as a district and it was published in the gazette?
Answer: Actually, about 3 days after all this happened, the election code of conduct was implemented in the state. Due to this, the process could not be completed. In fact, it was supposed to become a district by 2007 after the formation of the new government. The process should have been completed, but those playing political games continued their tricks, and Sihora could not become a district. Question: When did the issue of making Sihora a district regain strength?
Answer: In October 2021, some youths from Sihora district decided that Sihora must now become a district. They formed the Lakshya Zila Andolan Samiti (Target District Movement Committee). Since then, their movement has been ongoing. It is unknown what all they have done so far. If we listen to the stories of their struggle, it will be very painful. Question: How did you get involved in this movement? What happened after that?
Answer: I have been among the people here for a long time. I have met thousands of people. Everyone is suffering. There are many areas in Sihora where people have to go to the district headquarters Katni for their work. They feel very cut off. People tell me that leaders always give them empty promises. I saw the suffering within the people, which is why I joined this movement. In the year 2023, when I was also part of the movement, Prahlad Patel came here. He met me. He also said that the demand to make Sihora a district is very old and it should be allowed to become a district. During the last election, Smriti Irani came here. She said from the stage that I myself would take the MLA to the Chief Minister. I will get Sihora made a district. She also did not return. Two days before the election, through Dr. Jitendra Jamdar, the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to me. He realized that he would lose the election from here. Then Shivraj ji told me, “Brother, tell everyone that we will make it a district. We will make it a district under any circumstances.” The elections were held, and Santosh Varkade of the Bharatiya Janata Party also became an MLA. But, this issue was not raised with the seriousness it deserved at the higher level. Question: Why was there no major movement for about 2 years after the elections?
Answer: We thought that our MLAs would seriously raise this issue, but they didn’t. We had just given them time. However, our movement never stopped. Meanwhile, many youths were in so much pain over this that they were ready to commit suicide. When I came to know about this, I felt sad and realized that this is the most important issue. I explained to the youth, asking them not to do so. The whole matter went up. The discussion lasted for 3 months. From there, evasive and delaying talks were held. After this, I stated through a press conference on October 28 that if Sihora is not made a district, I will give up food from December 6. I will undertake a fast unto death at the bus stand. On December 9, I had called upon the people of the area and had also vowed to give up water. Question: What happened from the day of the fast until now? How did you get admitted to the ICU? Why did you drink water?
Answer: On December 6, I gave up food and began a fast unto death. On December 9, thousands of people from the area arrived here. On the same day, I also gave up water. On December 10, a team of doctors reached me. They described my condition as critical and asked me to consume food and water. I refused. After this, stating that my health was at greater risk, they requested me to be admitted to the ICU. I agreed to their request but did not consume food or water. Meanwhile, on December 13, the state’s Deputy CM Jagdish Devda arrived in Jabalpur. There, he had called a delegation from the Lakshya District Committee to meet him in Jabalpur. However, no one from the committee was willing to go and meet him. Meanwhile, the local MLA felt that if he could arrange a conversation between me and him, so the MLA came to me. He arranged my conversation with the Deputy CM over the telephone. He told me on the call, “You are a long-standing figure. You are our senior. We will present your matter to the Chief Minister. Continue your fight, but do not give up food and water. Consume it. I assure you that on any upcoming Tuesday, you, along with the delegation, will be called to Bhopal for a table talk with the Chief Minister.” After this, the CM met with the members of the committee seriously. I listened to everyone’s words. I pondered. Then I reached this decision that I will not consume food. Until the discussion is over, water and juice will suffice. Question: What solution will emerge from talks with the Chief Minister? What if Sihora does not become a district?
Answer: If the issue of Sihora district is resolved after talks with the Chief Minister, and the people of Sihora are satisfied with it, then our goal is also the same. Everything will be fine. There is no question of compromise. Making Sihora a district is our goal. It is the pain of every person. It is a matter of our self-respect. It is a matter of our birthplace. This is the center of India. As long as the people at the center remain angry, India’s development will not happen at the pace we desire. Sihora is called the navel (center) of the country. I have also performed spiritual practices at the place which is the center of India, 15 km from Sihora. Until it becomes a district, I will not consume food. And something even bigger than this can happen. Question: You have been an RSS Pracharak, are you getting help from the organization?
Answer: I have been a Sangh Pracharak for 25 years. Even after coming here, I work for the Sangh. The Sangh is my life. There is no election now, nor any political issue. This issue is not at all related to the Sangh. This issue is about my birthplace and civic duty. That’s why I am involved in it. This is an issue for every person in Sihora. Question: What was the struggle from the protest site to the ICU?
Answer: On December 9, I gave up water. On December 10, a team of doctors came and told me that giving up food was fine, but I had given up water. The physical conditions are becoming serious. Your kidneys and liver will get damaged. They requested me to get admitted. I followed their advice. They had come fully prepared to take me to Jabalpur, but I stayed here. The medical staff here supported me. They made all the arrangements here. I just came to the hospital but did not break my vow. I did not consume food or water.