JAIPUR: The large-scale cutting of Khejri trees in western Rajasthan has turned a growing concern into a loud public movement. On Monday, Bikaner witnessed a major protest called by environmental activists, bringing together villagers, traders, students, and political leaders under the open desert sky.
Khejri, known as the king of the desert, is more than a tree for the people of Rajasthan. It survives harsh droughts, feeds cattle, provides firewood and food, and keeps the fragile Thar ecosystem alive. For generations it has stood as a symbol of balance between people and nature.
Activists allege that solar power companies are destroying this balance. According to them, thousands of Khejri trees are being cut to clear land for new projects in Bikaner and nearby districts. They claim many trees are felled at night and buried underground to avoid official scrutiny.
In a show of solidarity, local trade bodies shut their shops, while government and private schools announced a half-day holiday. Large crowds gathered, waving placards and chanting slogans demanding protection for the state tree. Several political figures joined the demonstration, including MLAs Mahendra Bishnoi, Ravindra Singh Bhati, Abhimanyu Poonia, and former minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati.
Addressing the crowd, Shiv MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati said he had already raised the issue in the Rajasthan Assembly but warned that stronger action was needed. He called for youth to unite and said the Assembly itself should be gheraoed if the government failed to act. He promised to lead a march from Bikaner if required.
Former MLA Mahendra Bishnoi spoke about the Bishnoi community’s long history of environmental protection. He recalled past struggles, including confrontations during wildlife protection campaigns, and demanded tougher laws and harsher punishment to stop the illegal felling of Khejri trees.
For over a month, protesters have been conducting an indefinite dharna at the Bikaner Collectorate and Karnisar Bhatiyan under the banner of Khejri Bachao Andolan. The harsh conditions reportedly caused several women to fall ill, but the sit-in continues.
Placards carried a simple message: saving trees means saving lives. Protesters said the desert cannot survive without Khejri, and that development must respect nature, history, and the voices of those who live with the land here daily.
People from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh also joined, with a strong presence of women. The movement draws strength from history, recalling the 1730 sacrifice of Amrita Devi Bishnoi and 363 others, who gave their lives hugging Khejri trees in Khejrali to protect them.