Madhya Pradesh LoP Umang Singhar sparked a political row with his remark that "tribals are not Hindus". At an event in Chhindwara district, Singhar accused the BJP and RSS of imposing Hindu identity on the tribal communities. Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey criticised Singhar's statements as "harmful to social harmony and unity" and demanded an apology.