Tapi: Vyara MLA Mohanbhai Kokani has been accused of promoting religious conversions among tribal communities. Dev Birsa Munda Sena has alleged that the BJP MLA is actively involved in religious conversions and has demanded his resignation. In protest, volunteers from the group arrived at the Tapi district collector’s office and attempted to burn an effigy of Kokani before being stopped by the police.

Five volunteers namely Arvind Vasava, Champak Chaudhary, Kishor Vasava, Puiniya Kotwaliya, and Nitin Gamit were detained before they could burn the MLA’s effigy. The tribal group was protesting against Kokani’s attendance at a Christian community event called Christi Atmik Sammelan, which was organized on Monday in Chikhalvav village.

One of the detained protesters said, “Mohan Kokani is a Christian and promotes the conversion of Adivasis from open public platforms. He should resign. We are Adivasis; we are not Christians. We are nature worshipers.”

The protesters argue that, as an Adivasi, Mohanbhai Kokani should respect their traditions. “We are struggling to preserve our culture, but he openly calls for religious conversion,” one protester added.

The event, titled Christi Atmik Sammelan 2024, began on November 18 and was organized by the Faith Fellowship Church committee from Chikhalvav village. Kokani had been invited as the chief guest. During the event, Kokani reportedly said, “God has chosen you; that is why you are here from different villages to seek spiritual peace.” “Everyone who is here for spiritual guidance and food, not just today but for all three days, bring more people when you come back,” Kokani added.

Jignesh Gamit, president of Dev Birsa Munda Sena in Tapi, questioned Kokani’s presence at the event, asking why it was organized in a village with a small Christian population. Kokani responded, saying the organizers had asked for his permission before including his name in the invitation and emphasized that there was nothing inappropriate about attending the event.

Kokani won the 2022 Assembly election as the BJP’s lone Christian candidate, defeating Punaji Gamit of Congress, a four-time MLA. The Vyara constituency, located in the tribal-dominated Tapi district, heavily relies on the Christian vote bank.

Hailing from Haripura village in Dolvan taluka, Kokani was a social worker and farmer and has been an active BJP member since 1995. In 2015, he defeated Congress cooperative leader Mavji Chaudhary in the Tapi District Panchayat election. DeshGujarat

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