Bhairana Dham agitation: Hanuman Beniwal's Jaipur march ends in deal, RIICO project halted
Synopsis
A midnight convoy of thousands led by RLP chief Hanuman Beniwal stopped Rajasthan's administration in its tracks — literally. With saints, farmers, and youth marching on Jaipur, officials scrambled to negotiate on a highway at night, ultimately freezing a RIICO industrial project on 800 bighas of land tied to faith, water, and grazing rights. The real verdict now rests with a joint committee that must report within seven days.
Key Takeaways
Hanuman Beniwal , Nagaur MP and RLP chief, called off his midnight march to Jaipur on 28 May after reaching a deal with the administration.
All RIICO industrial development and construction on nearly 800 bighas at Bhairana Dham has been suspended with immediate effect.
Dairy plot allotments, including two commercial dairy plots, have also been put on hold.
A joint committee of saints, public representatives, the IG of Police , District Collector , and RIICO officials will hold its first meeting within seven days .
The committee will inspect the land for natural water bodies, as High Court guidelines bar their conversion for industrial use.
Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal called off his midnight march to Jaipur on 28 May after the Rajasthan administration agreed in principle to suspend all industrial development at Bhairana Dham, halting a RIICO project spread across nearly 800 bighas of disputed land. The agreement, reached during late-night negotiations on the highway, temporarily de-escalates one of the sharpest land-use conflicts in Jaipur district in recent months.
How the Night Unfolded
Tensions had been building for days around Bhairana Dham, where saints and villagers have been protesting plans to establish a RIICO industrial zone and allocate dairy plots on land they describe as historically used for grazing, religious observance, and natural water conservation. Several earlier rounds of talks between the administration and protesting saints had failed to produce any resolution.
After negotiations reportedly collapsed during the day, Beniwal addressed a large Mahapanchayat at the site and announced an immediate foot-and-vehicle convoy march toward the state capital. Thousands of farmers, youth, and RLP supporters from Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaipur Rural, and surrounding districts joined the convoy as it moved through the night.
Administration Intervenes Midway
As the convoy advanced, concerns over law and order prompted Jaipur district and divisional officials to intercept it midway. Senior authorities — including the Inspector General of Police, the District Collector, and RIICO representatives — set up a temporary negotiation camp along the highway. Talks continued late into the night before a consensus was reached.
Key Terms of the Agreement
Addressing the media after the meeting, Beniwal said the administration had accepted several major demands. All industrial development and construction activities linked to the proposed RIICO project on nearly 800 bighas of land at Bhairana Dham have been put on hold with immediate effect. Dairy plot allotments, including work related to two commercial dairy plots in the area, have also been suspended.
A joint committee comprising saints, public representatives, the regional Inspector General of Police, the District Collector, and senior RIICO officials has been constituted to examine the dispute. According to Beniwal, the committee will hold its first meeting within seven days and conduct a physical inspection of the 800-bigha tract to assess the presence of natural rivers, streams, drainage channels, and catchment areas.
Legal and Environmental Stakes
Officials noted that the inquiry will determine whether any natural water bodies or flow channels fall within the proposed project area — a critical question given that High Court guidelines prohibit the conversion of such features for industrial or commercial purposes. Protesters had long argued that the land functions as a natural water conservation zone, and that industrial development would threaten both the environment and the religious character of the site.
Beniwal described the outcome as a 'victory for Rajasthan's soldiers, farmers, and Sanatan culture.' The committee's findings are now expected to play a decisive role in determining whether the RIICO project proceeds, is relocated, or is scrapped entirely.
Point of View
Ecological, and agrarian — that the state did not adequately map before allocation. The administration's willingness to freeze the project only after a midnight highway confrontation raises an uncomfortable question: why did multiple earlier rounds of talks fail to produce the same result? The joint committee is a face-saving mechanism for both sides, but its seven-day timeline is tight for a dispute involving High Court-level environmental questions. If the committee finds protected water bodies within the 800-bigha tract, RIICO's project is effectively dead. If it does not, the agitation is likely to resume — and the next march may not stop on the highway.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bhairana Dham agitation about?
The agitation centres on a proposed RIICO industrial zone and dairy plot allotments on nearly 800 bighas of land at Bhairana Dham in Jaipur district. Saints and villagers argue the land serves as a grazing ground, a religious site, and a natural water conservation zone, and that industrial development would harm both faith and the environment.
What did Hanuman Beniwal's march achieve?
Beniwal's midnight convoy march toward Jaipur prompted Rajasthan administration officials to intercept the convoy and negotiate on the highway. The resulting agreement suspended all RIICO construction and dairy plot allotments at Bhairana Dham and constituted a joint committee to examine the dispute.
What is the joint committee and when does it meet?
The joint committee comprises saints, public representatives, the regional Inspector General of Police, the District Collector, and senior RIICO officials. It is required to hold its first meeting within seven days and will physically inspect the 800-bigha tract for natural water bodies and drainage channels.
Why does the presence of water bodies matter legally?
High Court guidelines prohibit the conversion of natural rivers, streams, drainage channels, and catchment areas for industrial or commercial purposes. If the committee finds such features within the proposed project area, the RIICO project cannot legally proceed in its current form.
What happens next in the Bhairana Dham dispute?
The joint committee's findings will be decisive. If protected water bodies are identified, the RIICO project faces significant legal hurdles. The agreement has temporarily de-escalated tensions, but the agitation's future course depends on the committee's report and whether the administration acts on its recommendations.
