Who Is Independent MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati Creating Headache For Rajasthan Government (image: x.com/RavindraBhati__)

Sheo, Rajasthan: Independent MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati is creating headache for ruling BJP government in Rajasthan either through his initiatives or due to his protests. On Sunday, Bhati, 27, was booked by the Rajasthan Police after an association of companies accused that he was solely responsible for impeding renewable energy projects worth Rs 8,500 crore in Sheo, his constituency.

In a press conference on Monday, Bhati stated that his first duty is to protect the rights and interests of the people of the area and in this pursuit third FIR has been registered against him in Shiv police station in a year. He said that he is ready to fight for the rights of farmers at all cost and will not allow destruction in the name of development in the area.

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In the December 2023 Assembly polls, Bhati got elected as an MLA for the first time from Sheo assembly constituency. He has always remained in the news either for his disagreements with local administration, police and private firms.

Bhati has been registered under Section 308 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) dealing with extortion, Magan Khan, a Sub-Inspector at Sheo Police Station said. Sources told Indian Express that the directive regarding the recent FIR against Bhati came from the very top in the government. In the press conference, Bhati said that all three FIRs registered against him so far have been for raising people’s issues.

However, Bhati’s efforts seems to increasing his popularity among the people as an MLA. Some of the issues he raised include, housing for nomadic tribes and Pakistani refugees, protested against the death of an inmate in Rajasthan’s Barmer jail, sought reservation for locals in private companies, raised the issue of unemployment, water scarcity, and power cuts.

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Bhati has written about these issues to ministers, both at the Centre and state, and to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. In the past months, he accelerated protests. He was at the forefront in raising the issue of protecting sacred groves in Baiya, pressing adequate compensation for high power transmission lines, and protesting against solar companies.

Formerly associated with the BJP, Bhati’s association with the party has been marked by inconsistencies from his student union days to the 2023 Assembly polls and last year’s Lok Sabha elections.