…speaks of [providing employment], yet data from the past few years reveals that, on average, only 42 to 46 days of work were actually provided. In other words, the government has failed to deliver even the promised 100 days of employment.<\/p>\n
He clarified that the Congress party demands the restoration of MGNREGA to its original form. If reforms are to be made, the minimum wage for MGNREGA workers should be increased rather than their rights being curtailed.<\/p>\n
Shri Chavda announced that from January 10 to February 25, as part of the “Save MGNREGA Movement” (*MGNREGA Bachao Andolan*), resolutions of protest will be passed through *Gram Sabhas* (village council meetings) in every village across Gujarat. Sit-ins, protests, and the submission of petitions will take place at the *Taluka* and district levels, alongside a planned *Gherao* (siege\/protest blockade) of the Legislative Assembly.<\/p>\n
He further stated that during this period, evidence of corruption within MGNREGA and the looting perpetrated by the families of BJP leaders and ministers would be presented to the public. The Congress party will wage a vigorous battle against the BJP government’s attempts to strip away the rights of the SC, ST, and OBC communities, women, and landless laborers.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, Shri Chavda asserted that the Congress party would not allow the BJP’s malicious conspiracy to succeed under any circumstances, and the movement would not cease until MGNREGA is restored to its original form that upholds the workers’ rights.<\/p>\n
This press conference, held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, was attended by Dr. Manish Doshi (Chief Spokesperson and Media Convener, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee), Shri Hemang Raval (Media Co-convener and Spokesperson), and spokespersons Dr. Hiren Banker, Dr. Amit Nayak, and Dr. Parthivraj Kathwadia.<\/p>\n
06-01-2026<\/p>\n
Gujarat Congress’s historic ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra: A Clarion Call for Change’<\/p>\n
The *Jan Aakrosh Sabha* (Public Outrage Rally) held in Dahod, marking the conclusion of the second leg of the 1,400 km journey, received massive public support. The Gujarat Congress’s *Jan Aakrosh Yatra* covered a distance of 1,400 km across seven districts of Central Gujarat, featuring 32 public meetings\u2014including dialogues with women and artisans\u2014and over 200 local organization and public reception points. It also included bike rallies with youth supporters in five cities, and the campaign reached hundreds of thousands of people.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of the *Jan Aakrosh Yatra* in Dahod, Shri Maheshbhai Vasava\u2014a tribal leader and former MLA from Dediapada\u2014joined the Congress party in the presence of Gujarat Congress in-charge Shri Mukul Wasnik and State President Shri Amitbhai Chavda. \u00b7 The Aam Aadmi Party is part of the BJP’s own strategy; its objective is to split votes and benefit the BJP: Shri Mukul Wasnik.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Congress governments granted the tribal community rights to forest land, reservations, and employment; today, the BJP wants to snatch all of that away: Shri Amitbhai Chavda.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 We want to tell the BJP government\u2014which is conspiring to seize tribal land and forests to hand them over to industrialists\u2014that we are prepared to face bullets, lathi-charges, and even imprisonment to uphold the rights and welfare of the tribal community: Shri Amitbhai Chavda.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The day is not far when we will expose all the corrupt politicians and officials currently in power in Gandhinagar and send them to jail: Shri Amitbhai Chavda.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Tribal rights are being violated in the name of land development projects\u2014this is unacceptable, and a fierce agitation will be launched in the near future: Shri Amitbhai Chavda.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Congress party is firmly committed to completely waiving farmers’ loans, making Gujarat drug-free, providing secure employment to the youth, ensuring safety and dignity for women, and sending the corrupt to jail: Shri Amitbhai Chavda.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the occasion, Congress in-charge Shri Mukul Wasnik stated that children in tribal areas today appear malnourished, there is a lack of good roads, and adequate healthcare services are unavailable. Furthermore, tribal lands are being acquired on a large scale for road construction without providing fair compensation. When Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, the Congress government enacted a law stipulating that land belonging to villagers could not be acquired without their consent and fair compensation; however, the current government refuses to heed this. We clearly tell the government that we will not allow tribal land to be snatched away and will continue to fight for the rights of the tribal community. Finally, he stated that the Aam Aadmi Party is misleading the public by acting as part of the BJP’s own strategy; its sole objective is to split the vote so that the ballots cast ultimately benefit the BJP directly.<\/p>\n
Addressing the ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ (Public Outrage Rally), Gujarat Congress President Shri Amitbhai Chavda said that the BJP government intends to strip the tribal community of its rights and amenities. During the Congress regime, the tribal community was granted rights to forest land, reservations, and employment; however, the BJP government is now usurping tribal land under the guise of projects like ‘Bharatmala,’ as well as the construction of ponds, wildlife sanctuaries, and airports. Tribal youth are not provided with opportunities based on their caste status, and no arrangements for employment are made within tribal areas. Tribal individuals who fail to secure jobs locally are forced to travel to various other locations within the state for work. The BJP never acts in the interest of the tribal community. The BJP government seeks to snatch everything from the tribals and hand it over to industrialists; however, we wish to inform the BJP government that every Congress leader stands with the tribal community in the fight for their rights and facilities. The Congress is prepared to face lathi-charges, gunfire, and imprisonment to uphold the rights and entitlements of the tribal community.<\/p>\n
Under BJP rule, the party’s ministers and leaders have… in schemes like ‘Nal Se Jal’ and MGNREGA……scams worth crores of rupees have been committed. When Bachhubhai Khabar was the minister at the time, people used to present Narendra Modi with gold bangles and large *siro* (traditional sweets) at meetings, creating the impression of lavish spending; however, it was later revealed that this was funded by money siphoned off from the MGNREGA scam. As the ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ concludes in Gandhinagar, we want to tell all the corrupt leaders and officials currently in power that the day is not far when the public will chase you down on the streets. The Congress is firmly resolved not to spare a single corrupt individual and to put all such people behind bars.<\/p>\n
At the end of the meeting, Shri Vikrant Bhuria, MLA and National President of the All India Tribal Congress, stated that while the tribal community does not harass others, it certainly does not let offenders off the hook\u2014and the BJP has attempted to harass tribals. I am a doctor; just as a doctor performs surgery, we are prepared to perform ‘political surgery’ on the BJP. Only the Congress can fight the true battle for tribals, and since independence, only the Congress has done genuine work for the tribal community. In Gujarat, tribal land is being usurped in the name of the Tapi-Narmada scheme\u2014an act that is unacceptable.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the BJP subjected tribal women in Manipur to the indignity of being paraded naked and mistreated. In Madhya Pradesh, a member of the tribal community was subjected to the humiliation of having someone urinate on him\u2014an act committed by BJP associates\u2014and in Gujarat, the BJP attacked Anant Patel, who has been championing the cause of tribals. The BJP labels tribals merely as ‘forest dwellers,’ but we are the *Moolnivasi* \u200b\u200b(indigenous people); we are *Adivasis*. On the occasion of the conclusion of the second phase of the 1,400-kilometer ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ (Public Outrage March) in Dahod, a large number of people participated in the march and attended the public meeting. Attendees included Gujarat Congress In-charge Shri Mukul Wasnik; Gujarat Pradesh Committee President Shri Amitbhai Chavda; All India Tribal Congress National President Shri Vikrant Bhuria; Co-in-charge Shri Ramkishan Ojha; senior leader and former MP Shri Madhusudan Mistry; MLAs Shri Jigneshbhai Mevani, Shri Anantbhai Patel, Shri Kantibhai Kharadi, Shri Amratji Thakor, and Shri Gulabsinh Chauhan; District Congress Committee President Shri Harshadbhai Ninama; and Gujarat Congress Tribal Department President Shri Rajubhai Pardhi. Also present were former MPs and MLAs, senior leaders, district and taluka presidents, members of District and Taluka Panchayats, and representatives from the Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, NSUI, Seva Dal, Social Media wing, Survey Cell, Tribal Department, as well as survey officers and ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ activists.<\/p>\n
31\u201312\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Thousands of youths in Gujarat are being deprived of the benefits of self-employment loans provided to the unreserved category by the Gujarat Government’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Despite the year 2024 coming to an end, the ‘Self-Employment Loan Scheme’ has not been announced. Has the government discontinued this scheme? The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment must clarify this.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The fact that applications from four districts submitted in 2023 were processed only in 2024\u2014after a gap of one and a half years\u2014is an example of the government’s poor implementation.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Out of the loans intended for 2023, only 971 were actually disbursed, which is merely 38.8% of the government’s target of 2,500. This represents a clear failure on the part of the government in implementing the ‘Self-Employment Loan Scheme’. Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan today, Parthivrajsinh Kathvadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that while the BJP government in Gujarat makes claims about employment and raises slogans of self-reliance, the ground reality is quite the opposite. If the Gujarat Social Justice and Empowerment Department does not advertise loans for the 40 business categories covered under the ‘Self-Employment Loan Scheme’ for the unreserved category, then where are applications being accepted? In 2023, the department issued an advertisement that drew 4,447 applicants. The government had set a target of granting loans to 2,500 applicants, yet only 38.8% of this target was achieved\u2014a clear indication of the government’s failure to implement the scheme effectively. Out of the 4,447 applicants in 2023, only 971 received loans. The BJP government’s inability to meet the target of 2,500 youths demonstrates a distinct failure in both the implementation and execution of its own scheme. Applicants from Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, and Mahisagar who applied in March 2023 were allotted loans only a year and a half later, in 2024. The dishonest administration of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department has sparked anger and resentment among Gujarat’s unemployed youth. Why did the BJP government and the Social Justice and Empowerment Department fail to issue a notification or accept applications for the “Self-Employment Loan Scheme” for the year 2024? Has the government discontinued the scheme? If so, why were inquiries regarding the scheme made at government offices in 2024? Does the Social Justice and Empowerment Department lack sufficient funds? Loans ranging from \u20b91.50 lakh to \u20b910 lakh are provided under this scheme. While thousands of youths from Gujarat\u2014including those denied loans last year and new applicants\u2014are waiting for an announcement to help them become self-reliant, the government is dashing their dreams. Youths from various parts of Gujarat complain that, in addition to the prescribed documents, they are being asked to submit extra paperwork. There are complaints that applicants from 2023…Applicants approved for loans in 2024 are facing difficulties as they are being asked for documents like title clearance certificates in addition to the standard *Talati* (village revenue officer) certificate. The government should investigate this matter. The Gujarat government ought to simplify administrative procedures so that rural youth can benefit from government schemes and the application process becomes easier for them. If the Gujarat government does not accept new applications or make fresh announcements regarding the ‘Self-Employment Loan Scheme,’ applicants will launch a protest following Gandhian principles.<\/p>\n
24-12-2024
\nAddressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan today, Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, accused the government of spending crores of rupees on advertisements like “Spend a few days in Gujarat” while simultaneously snatching away the livelihoods of poor boatmen and small food vendors. A ban on boating has been imposed at Nalsarovar\u2014renowned as Gujarat’s largest wetland and a famous Ramsar site\u2014following an incident involving a deer. The livelihoods of over 500 boatmen’s families depended on boating activities at Nalsarovar. Last year, Nalsarovar, which spans an area of \u200b\u200bover 120 square kilometers, hosted more than 320,000 migratory birds across over 140 species. Over 61,000 tourists and bird enthusiasts visited the site last year to enjoy bird-watching and sightseeing.<\/p>\n
During winter, various migratory birds\u2014such as flamingos, pelicans, white storks, Siberian cranes, and Asian openbills\u2014travel from distant regions like Eurasia, Russia, and China to make their homes in Gujarat’s diverse wetlands. The ban on boating at Nalsarovar directly impacts the livelihoods of people in 15 villages across the Bavla, Viramgam, and Limbdi *talukas*. If a corporate cruise can be permitted to operate in a major city like Ahmedabad, how does that benefit the impoverished boatmen? Families of poor farmers and women used to sustain themselves by serving local Gujarati delicacies\u2014such as *bajra* (pearl millet) roti, butter, garlic chutney, and *baingan bharta* (roasted eggplant mash)\u2014to domestic and international tourists visiting the eateries at Nalsarovar. Poor residents from nearby villages earned their livelihood by offering food, beverages, and horse rides to visitors in the area. Successive bans\u2014first on horse riding and now on boating\u2014have severely impacted the livelihoods of many villagers. Due to saline soil and the lack of proper irrigation facilities, the villagers’ sustenance depended entirely on tourism; their annual income relied on just three to four months of business activity. This decision will deprive tourists\u2014including bird enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, students, and others\u2014of these tourism services; they will be forced to return after merely viewing Nalsarovar from the shore, without the opportunity to take a boat ride to see migratory birds. The decline in tourism will also harm resorts located along the Nalsarovar road. Furthermore, the poor condition of the approach roads is already causing inconvenience to tourists. While the government champions the cause of eco-tourism on one hand, it is simultaneously stripping poor villagers of their livelihoods on the other. If safety is the concern, the government should arrange for life jackets and lifeguards instead of imposing bans. The government ought to prioritize the livelihoods of these villagers and establish a system\u2014backed by specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)\u2014that ensures a hassle-free experience for tourists. The chaos resulting from this government decision will have a serious impact on a multi-crore rupee business sector and the livelihoods of the villagers. 20\u201312\u20132024<\/p>\n
A land parcel measuring 2,69,172 sq. m. in the Kalo Khetar area of \u200b\u200bPoshina Taluka, Sabarkantha district, is involved here. The Sabarkantha Collector has ordered the payment of \u20b91,260 per sq. m. to the Executive Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department for the construction of a road connecting the village to the highway. In contrast, under the new Taranga Hill\u2013Ambaji\u2013Abu Road railway line project, tribal farmers are being offered a meager sum ranging from \u20b931 to \u20b945 per sq. m. Dr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, has strongly criticized the BJP government’s anti-tribal and anti-farmer policies. He stated that both the Central and State governments are perpetrating a grave injustice against tribal farmers by applying inconsistent criteria for compensation under Section 26 of the Land Acquisition and Adequate Compensation Act, 2013. In Sabarkantha, the Joint District Level Evaluation Committee ordered compensation at the rate of \u20b91,260 per sq. m. for 2,69,172 sq. m. of land located at R.S. No. 104 (J.S. No. 28) in Kalo Tara, Poshina. The Sabarkantha Collector ordered the payment of the total compensation amount\u2014\u20b933,01,56,720. Conversely, for the Taranga Hill\u2013Ambaji\u2013Abu Road project in Amba Mahuda (Poshina Taluka, Sabarkantha district), the Land Valuation Committee announced a paltry sum of \u20b931 to \u20b945 per sq. m. for the acquisition of tribal farmers’ land. In the process of land acquisition, the Forest Department is set to receive payment at a rate 3,600 percent higher for its land compared to the meager compensation offered for farmers’ land acquired for public projects\u2014specifically, the railway. This is clearly unjust. According to the valuation committee of the same district (Sabarkantha) and the Collector, the price of Forest Department land in the same *taluka* is fixed at \u20b91,260 per square meter, whereas the land belonging to tribal farmers is valued at only \u20b931 to \u20b945 per square meter. This clearly demonstrates the discriminatory attitude of the government administration. Sabarkantha District; Location: Amba Mahuda, Poshina.This concerns 77 distinct survey numbers of acquired land\u2014comprising both irrigated and unirrigated plots\u2014across the villages of Dantral, Lakhila, Chandna, Koland, Petachhapra, and Lakhiya. Farmers in Gujarat are facing grave injustice under land acquisition laws. Dr. Tushar Chaudhary, former Union Minister and Congress MLA from Khedbrahma, has submitted a written memorandum to the administration seeking justice for these farmers. The BJP government is taking successive decisions that strip farmers of their agricultural land, effectively turning them into farm laborers; the Congress party has warned that if the state and central governments fail to provide fair compensation\u2014particularly to the tribal community\u2014it will launch an agitation.<\/p>\n
19\u201312\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The state of education is deteriorating under the BJP government due to both flawed policies and poor intentions.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The BJP government has undermined the education system by appointing ‘in-charge’ principals for colleges and ‘in-charge’ vice-chancellors for universities.<\/p>\n
An internal rift between the BJP and the Sangh regarding the appointment of preferred vice-chancellors is causing significant damage to the higher education and university systems. Dr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that the BJP government has ruined the education system through these ‘in-charge’ appointments. He remarked that Mr. Chetan Trivedi\u2014currently serving at Junagadh University\u2014was not even qualified to be a professor; he secured the professorship through recommendations and, within two years, became the Vice-Chancellor of Junagadh University despite lacking the requisite credentials. Although Chetan Trivedi\u2019s term as Vice-Chancellor of Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, Junagadh, ended on July 20, 2022, he continues to function as the ‘in-charge’ Vice-Chancellor, making decisions at his own discretion. While university regulations at the time stipulated a three-year term for the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Trivedi has enjoyed special patronage, holding the position of Vice-Chancellor or ‘in-charge’ Vice-Chancellor for six years. Despite representations made to the Education Department regarding numerous financial irregularities at Junagadh University\u2014such as college mergers, the allocation of exam centers, a marks-improvement scam, and a question paper leak scandal\u2014no action has been taken to date. Even though the Supreme Court issued clear directives regarding the eligibility criteria for the Chancellor of Sardar Patel University, Vice-Chancellors were appointed in violation of rules at several universities, and they conveniently completed their tenures. Appointments to the post of Vice-Chancellor in state universities continue to be made in violation of UGC regulations. This has created an atmosphere of despondency among genuine professors within the state’s education system.<\/p>\n
Out of the 350 grant-in-aid colleges in the state, approximately 200 have been without permanent principals for a long time. There are 83 government arts and commerce colleges in the state; within these, vacancies exist across various categories: 13 Class-1, 177 Class-2, 167 Class-3, and 154 Class-4 posts. While 1,264 posts are filled in these colleges, 506 remain vacant. There are 263 grant-in-aid arts and commerce colleges in the state, with vacancies for 65 principals, 1,586 professors, 68 Physical Training Instructors (PTIs), 126 librarians, 1,178 Class-3 staff, and 1,301 Class-4 staff. More than 60% of the posts for librarians, Class-3, and Class-4 staff are vacant. Recruitment for Physical Education Instructors and librarians has not taken place in the state’s 263 grant-in-aid arts and commerce colleges for over 15 years. Additionally, 65% of administrative officer posts (1,178 positions) and 1,301 peon posts have remained vacant for a long time. Due to the absence of a fresh recruitment process, the number of vacant posts continues to rise as positions fall vacant through retirement or death. University Grants Commission<\/p>\n
As per the Ministry of Education’s directive, accreditation from the NEC is mandatory for every university and college in the country; however, the majority of universities and colleges in Gujarat have not received this accreditation. Out of 83 universities in Gujarat, 55 (over 66%) lack NEC accreditation, and out of 2,267 colleges, 1,767 (78%) remain unaccredited by the NEC. On one hand, under the State University Act, principals are effectively being excluded from appointments by mandating that only principals from NEC-accredited colleges can hold positions on the Board of Management\/Authority. On the other hand, many universities in Gujarat themselves lack NEC affiliation; why, then, are officials and the state government silent on this matter? According to the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023, Boards of Management have not been constituted in most state universities, and where they have been formed, the mandated 50% of appointments have not been made. Under the BJP government, financial irregularities and corruption\u2014including in appointments and tenders\u2014have become commonplace in state universities; in most instances, the Education Department shields these irregularities and acts of corruption at the government’s behest.<\/p>\n
18-12-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Gujarat Congress submitted a detailed memorandum to the Governor regarding the fraud case against the Adani Group in the US (which is tarnishing India’s image), the violence in Manipur, and issues directly affecting the people of Gujarat.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 A large number of party workers and leaders staged a protest rally, raising vociferous slogans such as “Adani-Modi *bhai-bhai*” (Adani and Modi are brothers) and “Desh ki kamai Adani mein samayi” (The nation’s earnings have been absorbed by Adani).<\/p>\n
The law-and-order situation in the state has deteriorated, inflation and unemployment have risen, fraud is rampant, the state of education and healthcare is worsening by the day, farmers are sinking deeper into debt, and citizens feel a complete lack of effective administration; therefore, in the interest of the state’s citizens, the Congress Party…A delegation\u2014comprising Congress Legislative Party leader Shri Amit Chavda, Deputy Leader Shri Shailesh Parmar, senior Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee leaders and former state presidents Shri Bharatsinh Solanki and Shri Jagdish Thakor, former MP Dr. Amiben Yagnik, Seva Dal National President Shri Laljibhai Desai, along with other MLAs and leaders\u2014met the Governor. They submitted a detailed memorandum addressing the fraud allegations against the Adani Group in the US (which are tarnishing India’s image), the violence in Manipur, and issues directly affecting the people of Gujarat.<\/p>\n
The Adani Group has been allotted over 61,464,186 square meters of land. Unused government land in the Mundra and Mandvi talukas of Gujarat’s Kutch district is being sold at rates ranging from \u20b92 to \u20b925 per square meter. This vast tract of land\u2014exceeding 61 million square meters\u2014has been handed over to the Adani Group at prices cheaper than water. In contrast, the government has long failed to provide plots to the poor and common citizens for housing\u2014plots that would be merely 50 to 100 times the size of a standard home.<\/p>\n
A container filled with drugs worth approximately \u20b925,000 crore was seized at Adani\u2019s Mundra Port\/Harbour; however, to date, no concrete action has been taken regarding the incident, nor have any steps been taken against the accused involved. It is a matter of concern that there has been no investigation into how many similar high-value drug containers may have previously arrived at Mundra Port or what role Adani played in the unloading of such containers. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) were signed with Adani Power Limited for a 25-year term at rates of \u20b92.89 per unit (under Bid-1) and \u20b92.35 per unit (under Bid-2); yet, payments are currently being made at a rate of \u20b98.85 per unit every month. Under this arrangement, a total of \u20b91,919 crore has been paid as a fixed sum over two years, bringing the total payout to \u20b98,160 crore. State-owned power plants are not being operated at full capacity in order to benefit Adani’s power companies. The state government should stop purchasing electricity from Adani at exorbitant rates; instead, it should operate its own power plants at full capacity to supply electricity to consumers at reasonable prices.<\/p>\n
The law and order situation has deteriorated; the youth of Gujarat are being ruined by the open prevalence of alcohol, gambling, and drug addiction, while incidents of murder, robbery, and theft are on the rise. Land mafias are usurping properties, and mining mafias are stealing minerals without any hesitation. Accused individuals no longer fear the police. Every day, six women and girls are raped in Gujarat. Anti-social elements are spreading fear and panic by committing crimes with impunity, yet neither the police nor the state government is taking concrete action, allowing these elements to run unchecked. While milk tankers symbolize the ‘White Revolution,’ crores of liters of liquor and drugs worth billions of rupees are being dumped into Gujarat, pushing thousands of youths into the abyss of addiction\u2014a matter of grave concern. The Gujarat of Gandhi and Sardar has transformed into a gateway for drugs.<\/p>\n
In accordance with the Honorable Supreme Court’s directive, state governments were explicitly instructed to conduct a unit-by-unit enumeration of the OBC population and make provisions for political representation based on those figures; however, it took years for the state government to constitute a dedicated commission. Because seats were not allocated based on population figures, a grave injustice is being inflicted upon the OBC community regarding seat distribution in local self-government elections. Administrators are currently ruling over more than 7,000 Gram Panchayats, 2 District Panchayats, 17 Taluka Panchayats, and over 75 municipalities. Despite repeated appeals, the state government has failed to take a decision.<\/p>\n
The report of the commission headed by retired High Court Chief Justice Shri K.S. Jhaveri\u2014constituted to determine seat reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in state bodies\u2014must be released immediately, and elections for local self-government institutions should be held at once to end the rule of administrators.<\/p>\n
Scams involving land\u2014such as the Panjrapol land scam in Mulsana, the Surat-Dumas land scam, the Gauchar (grazing land) scam in Kutch, and fraudulent Non-Agricultural (NA) land scams in Dahod\u2014have resulted in the misappropriation of land worth crores by fraudsters. As no strict action is being taken to recover this land, the government must reclaim these properties and take stringent action against all those involved.<\/p>\n
A wave of fraud is sweeping across the state. Incidents of impersonation involving PMO and CMO officials, fake ED agents, fake IAS officers, bogus courts, fake public prosecutors, sham government offices, illegal toll booths, fake police, spurious medicines and liquor, quacks, and land sales using forged documents are on the rise. Scams worth crores are being perpetrated under the guise of Ponzi schemes. Details are emerging regarding the BJP government’s direct involvement in a scam exceeding \u20b96,000 crore\u2014run under the name ‘BZ Solution’\u2014which promised to double or triple investments. Meanwhile, thousands of small investors are in distress, yet the police have failed to apprehend and punish the accused. Ponzi schemes and predatory interest collection are rampant. Such fraudulent activities are eroding citizens’ trust in the government. Immediate action must be taken to curb these elements. While \u20b912.30 lakh crore is being spent for the benefit of ‘friends,’ farmers across the country\u2014including those in Gujarat\u2014are sinking deeper into debt due to factors like expensive seeds…Farmers have been driven into a debt trap due to the costs associated with seeds, medicines, fertilizers, and irrigation; in Gujarat, they have been compelled to borrow \u20b93.64 lakh crore over three years just to save their crops, and this debt burden continues to rise. Farm loans in the state should be waived.<\/p>\n
Government and grant-in-aid schools and colleges are being shut down while private education is being promoted indiscriminately, making it increasingly difficult for children from ordinary and middle-class families in Gujarat to pursue their education. They are forced to seek admission in private institutions by paying exorbitant fees, yet even after such expensive education, they fail to secure employment opportunities. Numerous instances of large-scale irregularities and malpractices\u2014including paper leaks\u2014have surfaced regarding government recruitment. It has come to light that the government itself provides political patronage to facilitate the “backdoor” entry of close associates into the system, thereby depriving lakhs of Gujarati youths of job opportunities.<\/p>\n
Citizens are suffering due to rampant corruption across every department of the Gujarat government. Issues ranging from caste-related matters and farmers’ concerns to land surveys, the bicycle scam, the infamous hospital scandal, irregularities in ration distribution for the poor, and scams involving scholarships and housing have become hallmarks of this administration; taking result-oriented measures instead of becoming mired in such scandals would bring relief to the citizens. The Congress party delegation participating in the presentation included: Leader of the Congress Party in the Legislative Assembly Shri Amit Chavda; Deputy Leader Shri Shailesh Parmar; senior Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee leaders and former State Presidents Shri Bharatsinh Solanki and Shri Jagdish Thakor; former MP Dr. Amiben Yagnik; Dr. Prabha Taviad; AICC Joint Secretary Shri Nilesh Patel; Seva Dal National President Shri Laljibhai Desai; Ahmedabad City Congress President Shri Himmatsinh Patel; MLAs Shri Imran Khedawala, Shri Kantibhai Kharadi, and Shri Dineshbhai Thakor; State Congress Committee Vice-Presidents Shri Nishit Vyas, Shri Bimal Shah, and Shri Bhikhabhai Rabari; Media Coordinator and Spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi; former MLA Shri Lakhabhai Bharwad; OBC Cell President Shri Rajeshbhai Gohil; SC Cell President Shri Hitendra Pithadiya; Spokesperson Dr. Amit Nayak; Mahila Congress Working President Smt. Geetaben Patel; State Congress General Secretaries Shri Rajubhai Brahmbhatt, Shri Baldevbhai Luni, Smt. Geetaben Patel, and Shri Rajendrasinh Kumpavat; Mehsana District President Shri Hasmukhbhai Chaudhary; Gandhinagar District Congress President Shri Arvindbhai Thakor; and other leaders.<\/p>\n
17-12-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Leakage in the Public Distribution System (PDS): Gujarat ranks third in the country; 43% of food grains are wasted; large-scale corruption exists in the grain distribution system; the poor are being deprived of food.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Major flaws in the Public Distribution System: Wheat and rice rations worth \u20b969,000 crore do not reach the poor. Where do 20 million tonnes of wheat and rice disappear?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Food grains leak while in transit from Food Corporation warehouses: There is 28% leakage nationwide; while spoiled grain does not reach ration shops from warehouses, the national exchequer suffers a massive loss. Seeking an explanation regarding the 43.02% leakage or disappearance of wheat and rice from the Public Distribution System across Gujarat, Dr. Manish Doshi\u2014Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee\u2014stated that various food grains are regularly distributed nationwide under the Targeted Public Distribution System. Leakage in this context implies that grain is diverted to the black market, while thousands of tonnes rot in Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses. According to a recent report by an economic think tank, 28% of the government-distributed stock\u2014amounting to 20 million tonnes of rice and wheat worth approximately \u20b969,000 crore\u2014fails to reach the poor. This represents an annual loss. Where is this grain going? It is likely being diverted to the open market or exported. Data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, combined with monthly figures released by the FCI (between August 2022 and July 2023), indicates that 20 million tonnes of wheat and rice did not reach the intended beneficiaries. This constitutes a massive national loss; the question of where the grain leaving FCI warehouses actually ends up is a serious matter. It represents significant economic corruption and causes a substantial loss to the public exchequer. The fact that 28% of the grain is wasted or fails to reach the truly needy is a major issue. The government procures this grain at high support prices and provides it to the needy for free or at nominal rates. Despite government announcements regarding measures such as adopting digital technology and investing in the system, grain worth \u20b969,000 crore is not reaching the poor. With a nationwide leakage rate of 28% in the Public Distribution System, curbing this wastage is imperative. On one hand, children and women grappling with persistent malnutrition pose a major challenge for the country; corruption can be curbed and the poor can receive their rightful share of food grains only if stringent measures are taken to address the shortcomings in the Public Distribution System.<\/p>\n
States with the highest leakage<\/p>\n
States with the lowest leakage<\/p>\n
Ranking<\/p>\n
State<\/p>\n
Percentage<\/p>\n
Ranking<\/p>\n
State<\/p>\n
Percentage<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
Arunachal Pradesh<\/p>\n
63.18<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
Telangana<\/p>\n
0.30<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Nagaland<\/p>\n
60.36<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Andhra Pradesh<\/p>\n
1.20<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
Gujarat<\/p>\n
43.02<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
Karnataka<\/p>\n
6.17<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
HimaChal Pradesh<\/p>\n
36.27<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
West Bengal<\/p>\n
9.00<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Uttarakhand<\/p>\n
35.72<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Jammu and Kashmir<\/p>\n
9.87<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
Maharashtra<\/p>\n
35.68<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
Tamil Nadu<\/p>\n
15.84<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
Uttar Pradesh<\/p>\n
33.15<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
Bihar<\/p>\n
19.16<\/p>\n
13-12-2024<\/p>\n
Due to mismanagement by the Technical Education Department, 4,000 engineering college teachers are being deprived of benefits associated with their degrees and diplomas.
\nThese 4,000 teachers are being denied their due rights because of the BJP government’s policies of obstruction, suspension, and obfuscation, which have caused delays in a five-stage verification process. While one teacher from the Technical Education Department was granted benefits via an offline process\u2014seemingly out of favoritism\u2014the remaining 4,000 teachers face injustice regarding the online procedure.
\nDr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, demanded that the offline verification process for these 4,000 teachers from government engineering and polytechnic colleges be expedited and that the grade pay benefits be granted within a set timeframe. He pointed out that recently, in a special case involving a single professor from a diploma college, the Technical Education Office ordered the offline completion of the ‘CAS’ (Career Advancement Scheme) grade processing in just one month. In that instance, despite the approval date for the grade pay hike (from 8,000 to 9,000) falling after January 1, 2016, approval was granted on November 29 following offline verification, bypassing the ‘Cogent’ portal process. Meanwhile, the Technical Education Department has issued a circular requiring approximately 4,000 professors\u2014who hold degrees and diplomas and have been deprived of their benefits\u2014to undergo the online verification process via the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) portal. Five years after the AICTE circular dated March 1, 2019, the Education Department issued a circular regarding this matter on March 1, 2024. Following the issuance of the circular, there was hope that the cases of teachers in government degree and diploma colleges\u2014pending for 7\u20138 years\u2014would soon be resolved. However, instead of establishing a system where applications could be submitted and verified offline for immediate order issuance, the Commissioner of Technical Education decided to implement online verification. A circular dated July 30, 2024, instructed all teachers to submit their applications via the designated ‘Cogent’ portal. Yet, technical glitches within the Cogent portal caused significant difficulties for most teachers attempting to apply.<\/p>\n
The Technical Education Office initially set a deadline of August 20, 2024, for teachers to apply online via the Cogent portal. Due to technical issues, however, the Department had to extend the deadline twice, eventually pushing it to September 5. Even now, only two of the five phases on the Cogent portal have been verified; the remaining three phases have not been implemented\u2014even six months after the circular’s release\u2014causing immense frustration among the teachers. Given the slow pace at which the Cogent portal is operating, the milestones for upgrading teachers’ grade pay from 6000 to 7000 and from 7000 to 8000 remain distant (scheduled for March 31, 2025), and it appears uncertain whether even the first milestone will be achieved and the necessary orders issued. Consequently, despite approximately ten months having passed since the cases were formally acknowledged, technical errors and a lack of sensitivity have left teachers deprived of their rightful benefits, resulting in significant financial and career-related losses. It appears that 4,000 teachers are being deprived of their due rights due to delays in the five-stage verification process\u2014a consequence of the BJP government’s policy of procrastination, stalling, and misleading the public.<\/p>\n
12-12-2024<\/p>\n
Dr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that under the BJP regime\u2014which promised a ‘Vibrant’ and ‘Progressive’ Gujarat\u2014land mafias, usurers, mineral mafias, corrupt individuals, fraudsters, and impostors are thriving at the forefront. Meanwhile, farmers, the youth, women, small traders, and others are being pushed backward in sectors such as education, health, employment, security, and agriculture.<\/p>\n
Due to the government’s mismanagement and lack of planning, Gujarat has become the most indebted state in the country, with a debt burden of \u20b93.84 lakh crore. More than 70 municipalities are unable to pay their electricity bills. People in Gujarat are forced to pay exorbitant electricity bills due to a continuous decline in production by government power units and the exploitative practices of private power companies. Numerous housing schemes have failed over the last decade due to poor construction, large-scale corruption, and irregularities in the allocation of homes to the poor, causing distress to genuine beneficiaries. Indiscriminate felling of trees has also been on the rise over the past ten years.<\/p>\n
Farmers have repeatedly stated in public forums that they receive electricity for only six hours a day in the state, and that too, only at night. Farmers in Gujarat are burdened with a debt of \u20b996,000 crore. Crops have been ruined by unseasonal and excessive rainfall; the amount of cultivable land has shrunk, while the number of agricultural laborers continues to rise. Compensation for losses is meager, and a large number of farmers across various districts and talukas remain deprived of such compensation. The decision to close schools in rural areas is having a severe impact on girls’ education; in Gujarat, 24 percent of girls are forced to drop out of school after the eighth grade. Despite the major issue of malnutrition, 55 percent of women and 45 percent of children in the state are grappling with it. Furthermore, women working in schemes such as Anganwadis, ASHA services, and the Mid-Day Meal program are facing large-scale economic exploitation. They are being paid very low salaries. Despite the Honorable Supreme Court’s order, the BJP government is failing to implement it. Gujarat ranks 25th in the country regarding hunger, which is a matter of grave concern. While companies reaped government benefits worth crores of rupees under the ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ banner and signed MoUs, actual results are visible in only 8 to 10 percent of cases. Some of these major companies, having availed themselves of these massive benefits, are running liquor rackets; alcohol is being sold unchecked across 18,000 villages, 157 municipalities, and 8 metropolitan areas. Liquor tankers are being offloaded instead of milk tankers. Gujarat’s coastline has become a gateway for drugs worth crores\u2014a cause for concern for both the state and the nation. Drugs worth crores have been seized from pharmaceutical companies in Changodar, Sanand, Vadodara, and Ankleshwar; who is accountable for the drugs worth billions that went undetected?<\/p>\n
Financial assistance for artists has not been disbursed for three years. Numerous complaints regarding corruption and irregularities concerning the promotion of and support for Gujarati films have surfaced. There have been no appointments of physical education teachers or lecturers in the state for over 15 years; is this how Gujarat is expected to learn? No librarians have been recruited in the state for more than 15 years; is this how Gujarat is expected to learn? Approximately 40,000 teaching positions in government and grant-in-aid schools, and over 45 percent of professor posts, remain vacant; is this how Gujarat is expected to learn? More than 55 percent of doctor posts in civil hospitals, district hospitals, and primary and community health centers are vacant; is this how Gujarat is expected to remain healthy? Vacancies for pharmacists and paramedical staff in civil hospitals, district hospitals, and health centers stand at 65 percent, with health services being outsourced or handled via contracts; is this how Gujarat is expected to remain healthy? With six incidents of rape against women and girls occurring daily, and a continuous rise in serious crimes\u2014including murder and extortion\u2014can Gujarat truly remain safe?<\/p>\n
11-12-2024<\/p>\n
\u2022 In the land of the “Vikas Purush” (Man of Development), 3.3 million (33 lakh) children are malnourished, with Gujarat\u2014touted for its development model\u2014topping the list.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The country with the highest number of sickle cell anemia patients in the world…<\/p>\n
\u2022 A BJP government minister stated in Parliament that 39.7% of India’s children are malnourished\u2014a dark blot on the Government of India.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The BJP government should stop the theatrics and focus on actual development.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The country’s future changes not by renaming schemes, but by transforming the mindset and vision of its rulers…<\/p>\n
The then-Congress government believed that the nation’s future depended on children’s health; consequently, in 1984, it launched the Mid-Day Meal scheme in Gujarat to promote education and its benefits. The primary objectives of this scheme were:<\/p>\n
1. To improve nutritional status by providing children with hot, cooked, and nutritious meals.<\/p>\n
2. To encourage poor children\u2014who might otherwise stay away from education\u2014to attend school and to reduce dropout rates.<\/p>\n
3. To help children focus on classroom activities.<\/p>\n
4. To foster a sense of social equality among children.<\/p>\n
After 2014, the Modi government renamed the Congress-era Mid-Day Meal scheme to “PM Poshan Yojana,” yet did little to address the rising number of malnourished children in the state, causing the figures to climb further. Today, out of the 820 million people worldwide facing malnutrition, 220 million are in India; within the country, 3.3 million children are malnourished\u2014more than half of whom are severely malnourished\u2014with the “double-engine” state of Gujarat leading the list.<\/p>\n
In 2018, schemes were launched to provide food grains to the parents of children studying in 14 tribal districts (under the ‘Annatriveni’ scheme) and milk to schoolchildren (under the ‘Doodh Sanjeevani’ scheme); however, the number of malnourished children in the state continues to rise. It is evident that these schemes exist only on paper; what is being presented to the public is merely a charade.<\/p>\n
According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5)\u2014which surveyed India’s most malnourished districts\u2014five districts from Gujarat (Dang at 53.1%, Dahod at 53%, along with Narmada, Panchmahal, and Tapi) feature among the country’s top 10 most malnourished districts. Conversely, not a single district from Gujarat appears in the list of the top 10 best-nourished districts. Thus, the government’s administrative performance in these tribal districts is dismal. Furthermore, the National Family Health Survey report, tabled in Parliament in March 2022, indicates a figure of 39.7% for Gujarat…<\/p>\n
Gujarat tops the country with the highest percentage of malnourished children.<\/p>\n
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manhar Patel has urged the central and state governments to address the issue, noting that the number of patients suffering from “Sickle Cell Anemia”\u2014a condition linked to malnutrition\u2014is highest and steadily rising in Gujarat’s tribal districts. To date, neither the state nor the central government has launched any concrete program or plan to combat this disease. “Sickle Cell Anemia” is a dangerous condition that devastates the nation’s youth; often, children are afflicted with it from birth. The state government must continuously monitor the affected areas and populations, and urgently formulate and implement a long-term plan covering public awareness, diagnosis, and nutritional support. “Sickle Cell Anemia” must be brought under control at all costs. 06-12-2024<\/p>\n
Gujarat Pradesh Congress spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi stated that Rasesh Gujarati of Surat was removed from the post of President of the ‘Doctor Cell’ in 2021. Currently, he is a Congress par…He does not hold any official position or responsibility within the party. Action in accordance with the law must be taken against Rasesh Gujarati; the law will take its course. If a wrong has been committed, legal action must follow. The Congress never attempts to shield any criminal. It appears that BJP spokespersons have suddenly found a new lease of life. Why are the BJP leaders\u2014who remain completely silent on the fake PMO, CMO, CBI, and now fake ED teams flourishing across the state\u2014acting like fugitives? For over 20 years, the state has provided political shelter to BJP functionaries involved in scandals and scams\u2014individuals who speak cunningly about these incidents. Instead of taking concrete steps against criminals, instances of BJP leaders haphazardly shielding criminals have frequently come to light in Gujarat. The BJP needs to answer for this. Corruption and scams have been rampant under the BJP government for the past 20 years, from the village level up to Gandhinagar. Numerous scams have surfaced in the past where links to BJP leaders were exposed. Yet, when it is revealed that BJP functionaries are directly connected to those endangering the lives of the people of Gujarat, BJP spokespersons mostly remain silent. Why do BJP spokespersons not speak up when BJP leaders are involved in scams? The people of Gujarat are being fleeced due to the BJP’s corrupt government. Under BJP rule, the state leads the country in scams and scandals. The BJP grants scammers a license to loot by cloaking them in the party’s identity. BJP leaders have no need to offer advice to the Congress. In reality, the BJP government should stop shielding and providing political shelter to fraudsters.<\/p>\n
5\u201312\u20132024
\nToday, in the Rajya Sabha, Hon’ble MP and Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri Shaktisinh Gohil raised the issue of the losses suffered by farmers in Gujarat due to heavy rains. In response, the Central Government has stated that whenever a major natural disaster occurs, substantial financial assistance is provided through the NDRF; however, these funds are released only after the state government conducts a damage assessment and submits a formal request or claim. In 2024, farmers in Gujarat suffered massive losses due to heavy rains, yet the Gujarat government failed to submit a claim for damages to the Centre, resulting in a lack of special NDRF assistance. Assistance from the SDRF is subject to specific limits. I recall that when the current Prime Minister was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and I was the Leader of the Opposition, we\u2014as the Congress party\u2014sought additional aid for the state from the then-Congress-led Central Government; even though the damage was less severe at the time, we still secured significant NDRF support. This time, the damage in Gujarat has been immense and farmers have been ruined; the state government should have submitted an application demanding fair compensation based on survey data. However, the response received indicates that the Gujarat government made no such application or demand\u2014an act amounting to criminal negligence. Gujarat’s farmers are devastated. Despite the talk of a “double-engine government”\u2014with the BJP in power at both the state and central levels and the Prime Minister hailing from Gujarat\u2014no demand was raised and no application was filed, even though the farmers should have received substantial relief. This constitutes criminal negligence on the part of the BJP government in Gujarat. It is deeply unfortunate that the BJP government has committed a grave injustice against the people of Gujarat; this is what Shri Shaktisinh Gohil stated in conclusion.<\/p>\n
4-12-2024<\/p>\n
By recommending higher *Jantri* (ready reckoner) rates, the state government is itself violating official circulars. These higher rates will stifle state development and financially cripple citizens; therefore, the Congress party strongly opposes this proposed *Jantri* revision. The 2011 Jantri (land valuation) revision circular suggested an annual increase of 8%. However, this annual hike was not implemented; instead, a recommendation has been made to raise Jantri rates by a staggering 2000% after 13 years\u2014what kind of administration is this? Under the state government’s own circular, the government could have considered a cumulative 104% increase over 13 years based on the 8% annual rate. Proposing a one-time 2000% hike is a decision that hinders Gujarat’s development.<\/p>\n
The state government needs to adopt a sound approach; Jantri is not a tax. There is a distinction between a fee and a tax: a tax is a tool for running the government, whereas a fee is not intended for that purpose.<\/p>\n
It should not be treated as a revenue source; the duty is meant to fund the maintenance of public property records and documentation. Furthermore, stamp duty is revenue for the Gujarat government, while long-term capital gains tax is revenue for the Government of India.<\/p>\n
In this context, when the government wishes to gift public land to beneficiaries, it often disregards the actual land value. By constituting a committee of Collectors or senior officials and citing “major public benefits” on paper, land is surrendered at throwaway prices. Consequently, crores of square meters of land have been removed from government records.<\/p>\n
Thus, the new land valuation policy proposed by the state government will likely invite a slump in the real estate market, stifle business and employment in the state, and fuel inflation.<\/p>\n
4-12-2024<\/p>\n
Environmental destruction in Gujarat in the name of ‘development’\u2014all to give meaning to the slogan “Donate, Get Business.”<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The people of Gujarat do not want toxic development at the cost of the environment. \u2013 Hemang Rawal<\/p>\n
\u00b7 To save centers dedicated to animal husbandry, agriculture, the environment, and Vipassana in Kutch from being ruined by the GHCL company…The land allocation must be cancelled immediately. \u2013 Hemang Rawal<\/p>\n
On one hand, the government has granted permission to fell over a million trees across Gujarat in the last five years, while on the other, green cover is steadily declining throughout the state. Residents of Bada and surrounding villages in the Mandvi Taluka of Kutch district strongly feel\u2014and demand\u2014that no land or further permissions be granted to the GHCL company. They want to prevent the destruction of the environment, marine life, agriculture, and animal husbandry that sustain ten villages in the Mandvi Taluka. There is widespread local opposition to the GHCL company across the neighboring villages; the company is unwelcome for several key reasons.<\/p>\n
Mandvi\u2019s villages support livelihoods based on thriving horticulture, rain-fed natural farming, and animal husbandry. Additionally, the proximity of Mundra Port\u2014located just 40 kilometers away\u2014provides residents with excellent employment opportunities and supports various local businesses, both large and small. The arrival of this company would not create new jobs for locals; instead, it would jeopardize existing livelihoods.<\/p>\n
Opposition and public anger regarding the company’s public hearing were so intense that the event was cancelled once. Subsequently, despite numerous flaws in the company’s environmental report, the administration and police force proceeded with a second public hearing, where over 5,000 people registered their protest.<\/p>\n
From another perspective, Mandvi Taluka possesses natural beauty that holds great potential for development as a tourist destination. Initiatives have recently been launched to develop two beaches along the Mandvi coast: one near Mandvi city and another near Asar Mata (Nana Laija). The Asar Mata beach falls within a 5-kilometer radius of the company’s proposed site; consequently, if the factory is built, the beach will become unsuitable for tourism. There are currently no chemical-based industries in this area, nor are the raw materials required for soda ash production available in this *taluka*. Yet, GHCL is attempting to set up a soda ash manufacturing plant here. The production process requires limestone, salt, and coal\u2014none of which are found in this *taluka*.<\/p>\n
If the raw materials (limestone, salt, and coal) are transported to the site, the transportation process itself will generate pollution and pose a danger to all the areas along the route.<\/p>\n
GHCL\u2019s existing plant in the Sutrapada area is causing severe damage to the marine environment and agriculture, pushing them to the brink of total destruction. Villagers in Mandvi have observed\u2014and documented on video\u2014that even wild *Babul* trees have stopped growing within a one-kilometer radius of the company’s factory; gas is leaking from drains, and local residents are falling victim to diseases like cancer. Furthermore, in Sutrapada, GHCL has been completely disregarding notices issued by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).<\/p>\n
In Mandvi *taluka*, where land has been allocated to GHCL, the terrain surrounding Bada village is fertile and suitable for agriculture, and Narmada water is now available for irrigation. GHCL misled the government by misrepresenting the proposed plant site as barren land under Section 80G.<\/p>\n
Beyond the aforementioned socio-economic concerns, the primary opposition from local residents regarding the proposed soda factory in Bada village stems from environmental issues, including climate change and global warming.<\/p>\n
From an environmental perspective, the ecosystem of Kutch is extremely fragile and serves as a habitat for diverse wildlife and bird species. Ample land is available for industrial development near the Kandla and Mundra ports in Kutch, where numerous industries are already operational. Ignoring these established industrial zones to set up a factory near Bada would be a disastrous and unfortunate move for the environment. The coastal stretch from Mandvi to Abdasa in Kutch has remained pollution-free. Three species of sea turtles\u2014(1) Olive Ridley, (2) Green Sea, and (3) Leatherback\u2014use this coastline for nesting. During the mating season, many female turtles laid eggs on the stretch between Mandvi and Pingleshwar, though the waters off Bada are particularly favorable. These turtle species are classified under Schedule 1 of the Government of India’s Animal Protection Act and are endangered\u2014meaning they are on the verge of extinction.<\/p>\n
In the 2022\u201323 season, female turtles nested and laid eggs at six locations\u2014including Bada, the Lighthouse area, and Suthari\u2014all of which have been registered by the Forest Department.<\/p>\n
These nesting sites have been documented, and the eggs are being safely nurtured; local Forest Department officials have confirmed this.<\/p>\n
The area stretching from Bada to Pingleshwar has the potential to become a facility similar to the Madhavpur Turtle Breeding Center. Locals are demanding that this coastal region be declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone.<\/p>\n
Mandvi, Kutch, is home to the only government science college in Gujarat dedicated to the study of marine science, attracting students from various Indian states to study marine life.<\/p>\n
The college was established in Mandvi specifically to allow students to study marine life in an environment free from pollution. If the GHCL company pollutes the Mandvi coastline, it will adversely affect the studies of the thousands of students enrolled at this college.<\/p>\n
In the company’s operational area near Bada village, there are over 500 colonies of the national bird, the peacock. Additionally, colonies of Schedule 1 reptiles and birds\u2014protected by the government’s Forest Department\u2014are located within the proposed plant site, known locally as the ‘Old Big Lake’ (Purani Badi Jheel)……is well known. GHCL has concealed all these facts in its EIA report.<\/p>\n
The organization through which the company prepared the EIA report\u2014NEERI\u2014does not possess the accreditation certificate required to prepare such reports for coastal areas. Despite this lack of accreditation, a public hearing was conducted based on this misleading report. In this matter, the relevant ministry of the Government of India has suspended NEERI for six months.<\/p>\n
According to the latest count, only four Great Indian Bustards remain in this region of India. In compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive to ground power lines, the grasslands of Bada and Bambhdai villages have been designated as bustard habitat; consequently, farmers in this area are denied electricity connections to ensure the birds’ safety. Surveys of the bustard habitat confirm that the birds frequent these areas. Bada village is located near the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary. Granting permission for a massive factory so close to the sanctuary would have severe consequences for the conservation of the bustard.<\/p>\n
Global warming and climate change are the most critical issues facing the world today. Scientists predict that global warming will increase the frequency of cyclones like Biparjoy and trigger migration in coastal regions like Mandvi. To mitigate these impacts, it is essential to ban units that emit greenhouse gases; GHCL is one such company.<\/p>\n
Agriculture thrives throughout Mandvi, and the region has seen significant development thanks to the availability of Narmada water. Agricultural activities involve planting numerous trees and plants, which reduce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increase oxygen levels. The arrival of the company would destroy agriculture and lead to deforestation, causing greenhouse gas levels to rise far beyond projected limits. The forests along the saline belt near the coastal villages protect us from natural disasters\u2014protection that GHCL Company\u2019s proposed plan threatens to compromise by laying tunnels. The Gujarat government has invested significant capital in *Cheri* (mangrove) cultivation, and our state ranks second only to Bengal in terms of the area dedicated to it. The area known as ‘Naad,’ near Bada village, is vast, open, and ideally suited for *Cheri* cultivation. If *Cheri* plantations are established here and in the surrounding coastal villages, they could surpass those in Bengal; this would generate employment, improve the environment, and provide a buffer against cyclones like Biparjoy. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by GHCL is completely misleading and was prepared without conducting a proper study of the area. No permissions were sought from local authorities, coastal zone management, or forest departments, nor was the opinion of the local community considered. There are over 10,000 cows in Bada and the surrounding areas, and the land allocated to the company currently serves as grazing ground for them. The region is rich in agricultural and environmental resources, generating an annual turnover exceeding \u20b9200 crore. Consequently, the villagers have no need for employment at the cost of the environment; the company’s arrival threatens to destroy grazing lands and the ecosystem, thereby harming agriculture and animal husbandry. The Mahajans have long been an integral part of Kutch’s culture, and the Kutch Mahajan has also opposed the aforementioned project.<\/p>\n
Bada village is home to the world-renowned Vipassana Institute\u2014established by Goenkaji\u2014which preserves Indian culture and heritage. People from across the country and the globe visit this site seeking peace of mind, thereby strengthening India’s spiritual image worldwide. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also written a book on the environment; he stated that “Vipassana is a unique gift from ancient India and also a modern science that can help people\u2014both young and old\u2014cope with stress and problems in their lives.”<\/p>\n
By allocating land to GHCL, the Gujarat government appears to have disregarded Modi-ji, effectively proving the adage that “the master’s wisdom stops at the doorstep” (meaning the advice is ignored right where it originated).<\/p>\n
The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee stands with the local people in this campaign to protect the environment and urges the government to establish a center in Kutch dedicated to animal husbandry, agriculture, environmental conservation, and Vipassana.<\/p>\n
To prevent this from happening, the land allocation to GHCL must be immediately cancelled.<\/p>\n
3\u201312\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Who is Amansingh Chavda\u2014the individual named alongside the scammer Bhupendrasinh Jhala\u2014who issued the invitation for the inauguration of the BZ Solution office in Gandhinagar?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Amansingh Chavda has held various state-level positions within the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an affiliate organization of the BJP and RSS.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Is he a partner or an agent in this BZ Ponzi scheme scam?<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia made a shocking revelation: in the \u20b96,000 crore scam perpetrated by BZ Solution, the BJP and its affiliate organizations were not only shielding such scammers but were also acting as partners and agents. The invitation for the grand inauguration of BZ Solution’s Gandhinagar office mentions another name alongside the accused, Bhupendrasinh Jhala\u2014that name is Amansingh Chavda. Who is this Amansingh Chavda? On his Facebook account, this individual displays his association with the BJP-Sangh affiliate, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidy…He is a former State Joint Secretary of the student organization and has held several state-level positions within the student council. The office for ‘BZ Solutions’ was inaugurated on May 24, 2024, at Suite 207, 2nd Floor, ‘White House’ building, Sector 11, Gandhinagar. Reports indicate that several local leaders from the BJP and the student council were present at the inauguration. Is this individual a partner or agent of Bhupendrasinh Jhala, the head of BZ Solutions? Has this office undergone proper scrutiny? Given its proximity\u2014within walking distance\u2014to the Home Minister’s office, the Legislative Assembly, and the Police CID (Crime) headquarters, an investigation is warranted to determine if any concrete action has been taken. Photos on Facebook show foreign delegates dining with Bhupendrasinh Jhala of BZ Solutions at a luxurious hotel; this appears to be a ploy to lure unsuspecting citizens into a Ponzi scheme by creating the impression of overseas capital investments. While BJP leaders in Gujarat loudly proclaim that no such fraudsters will be spared, the fact that these individuals are photographed with senior BJP leaders raises the question: when will action actually be taken against them? When will strict measures be enforced against those who exploit the system for illicit gain? What will become of the capital belonging to the Gujaratis defrauded by this Ponzi scheme, which was launched with such fanfare at the Gandhinagar office opening? Immediate investigations must be conducted into individuals linked to the BJP or its affiliate organizations who are acting as agents or partners, and legal action must follow if they are found guilty. Bhupendrasinh Jhala, the owner of BZ Solutions and an accused in a \u20b96,000 crore scam, is an active BJP worker, and Amansinh Chavda is also associated with the Sangh and the BJP. A massive fraud is being perpetrated against thousands of small-scale investors from the general public and the middle class, with over 14,000 people falling victim. This racket involves exploiting regulations\u2014such as those of the Reserve Bank of India and the Gujarat government’s interest laws\u2014to carry out a scheme of financial exploitation. 02.12.2024<\/p>\n
To,<\/p>\n
Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel<\/p>\n
Honorable Chief Minister, Gujarat State,<\/p>\n
Gandhinagar.<\/p>\n
Subject: Regarding extending the period for accepting practical objections to the proposed Jantri and accepting objections via offline modes in addition to online channels.<\/p>\n
Greetings,<\/p>\n
I wish to bring to your attention that the government has recently announced the proposed Jantri and invited the public to submit objections within a 30-day timeframe.<\/p>\n
Compared to the Jantri implemented on April 15, 2023, the proposed Jantri reflects a 100% increase; it was decided that a ‘scientific Jantri’ would be implemented to rectify previous shortcomings.<\/p>\n
Despite this, the government has taken 18 months to prepare the scientific Jantri. Furthermore, the 30-day window provided for public objections is insufficient and should be extended.<\/p>\n
The state government has indicated increases ranging from 50% to 2000% in the proposed Jantri. This steep hike\u2014accumulated over 18 months\u2014places an unbearable financial burden on citizens, hinders state development, and is administratively impractical. Therefore, the proposed Jantri requires thorough study and reconsideration before inviting public objections; we demand that the deadline for submitting suggestions and objections be extended to March 31, 2025.<\/p>\n
Additionally, while the state government is currently inviting objections regarding the proposed Jantri only through online channels, it is a matter of public interest that offline submission facilities be made available. Specifically, in every district, facilities to accept offline suggestions should be provided at the Collector’s office as well as at at least two other centers within the district, ensuring that a larger segment of the population can convey their views to the government. In the broader interest of the people of Gujarat, it is our demand and request that the concerned department be immediately apprised of the matter, taking our constructive representation into account.<\/p>\n
30-11-2024<\/p>\n
\u00fc The State Government’s appeal for organic farming is merely a talking point; it does not reflect a genuine intent.<\/p>\n
\u00fc While the Honorable Governor advises farmers to adopt organic farming\u2014much like an agricultural scientist\u2014an effort must also be made to understand the farmers’ hardships.<\/p>\n
\u00fc Before urging farmers to adopt organic farming, the State Government should assist them with critical issues such as water, electricity, crop protection, and GST on agricultural inputs.<\/p>\n
\u00fc For 25 years, agricultural scientists have been concerned about the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and have advocated for organic farming, yet the State Government has remained asleep.<\/p>\n
\u00fc If the State Government is serious about implementing organic farming, it should decide to provide a subsidy of \u20b915,000 per hectare annually to every farmer.<\/p>\n
For the past few years, the State Government has been urging farmers to adopt organic farming, citing rising cancer rates and declining soil fertility caused by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Appeals to switch to organic farming are being made by highlighting these alarming consequences. Let me state clearly: I support organic farming, as it is essential for the ecosystem.<\/p>\n
However, there is an ulterior motive behind the State Government’s insistence on organic farming. The BJP has ruled the state for over 27 years; why has it suddenly become so concerned about cancer and soil fertility? Scientists from Gujarat Agricultural University have been submitting serious warning reports on this issue for 25 years, yet the government has paid no heed to them……has not been provided.<\/p>\n
There was a time, following the country’s independence, when agricultural production was very low and India relied on the rest of the world for food; achieving self-sufficiency in food production was therefore essential. Consequently, factories for chemical fertilizers were established to boost and sustain agricultural output. This led to increased production and self-reliance, ushering in the Green Revolution.<\/p>\n
However, the excessive use of agricultural inputs associated with modern farming methods often causes harm rather than good. Many farmers, hoping for higher yields, began using chemical fertilizers and pesticides far beyond recommended levels; over time, the adverse effects of this practice became evident on both the soil and human health. It was then that the state’s agricultural universities raised awareness, voiced their concerns, and presented research-based evidence to the state government.<\/p>\n
Yet, for 27 years, the BJP government ignored the advice of agricultural scientists regarding the curbing of excessive chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. Today, the public is suffering the consequences, and the impact of these serious repercussions is visible across the ecosystem. Thus, a government operating without a clear direction has caused immense long-term damage to both the people and the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
The reality today is that 86% of farmers in the state own small landholdings. Farmers naturally seek profitable options within their existing farming systems and do not readily adopt new methods unless they see a clear advantage. Recognizing this mindset, previous Congress governments established the Gujarat Agricultural University, set up four campuses across four zones, created research centers, and established a Trial-cum-Demonstration Farm (TCD) in every *taluka*. Agricultural scientists conducted research on new farming techniques and improved seed varieties; farmers benefited from these innovations and adopted them in their own fields based on expert advice. The biggest question today is that the government itself lacks clarity regarding organic farming. For 25 years, the BJP government has failed to resolve the issues farmers face concerning water, electricity, and crop security\u2014essentials for making farming viable\u2014yet it appeals to them to adopt organic farming. Agricultural universities today have nothing concrete to demonstrate to farmers, and the government has sold off the Trial-cum-Demonstration (TCD) farms that once existed in every *taluka*. Consequently, farmers do not trust the government and are unwilling to make changes to their small landholdings. However, if the state government is genuinely concerned about organic farming, it should deposit \u20b915,000 per hectare annually for every farmer.<\/p>\n
Manhar Patel
\n28-11-2024<\/p>\n
Bhupendrasinh Jhala, the founder of BZ Solution, is a BJP member and is considered close to several BJP leaders. Dr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, demanded an explanation from the BJP government regarding the \u20b96,000 crore scam involving Jhala. He noted that senior BJP leadership\u2014including State President C.R. Patil, State General Secretary Rajnibhai Patel, Education Minister Kuberbhai Dindor, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Bhikhusinh Parmar, and other prominent BJP leaders\u2014were present at the inauguration of the BZ Global Education Campus in Sabarkantha, a project undertaken in partnership with the Growmore Education Campus. BZ Solution was a partner in this education campus venture. It seems that once one dons the BJP sash, one acquires a license for corruption and plunder. Small families invested their money, lured by the prospect of quick gains. Many such individuals are operating across the state, running Ponzi schemes. The Home Minister has not uttered a single word regarding the ‘Fame’ and ‘BZ’ cases. A thorough investigation, including an analysis of call records, must be conducted on everyone in contact with Bhupendrasinh Jhala; those who have praised him should also be investigated. BJP leaders themselves publicly claimed to be experts at doubling investments\u2014turning one into two and four into eight. If individuals like Bhupendrasinh Jhala are truly that clever, the government ought to seek financial advice and services from them. The Congress party demands that, amidst the numerous scams and scandals plaguing the BJP government, action be taken in at least one instance that sets a precedent, thereby putting an end to this racket of plunder. Action must also be taken against those providing political patronage.<\/p>\n
Bhupendrasinh Jhala, the owner of BZ Solutions and an active BJP worker, is implicated in a \u20b96,000 crore scam. Preliminary reports indicate that over 14,000 investors\u2014comprising ordinary citizens and members of the middle class\u2014have fallen victim to this massive fraud. Reserve Bank of India, Gujarat Government…<\/p>\n
This racket operates by exploiting loopholes in laws governing interest-based transactions. Why did BJP ministers and security officials turn a blind eye despite large-scale fraud occurring through these agreements? A \u20b96,000 crore scam involving massive financial transactions was perpetrated with the blessings of several BJP leaders. Between 2020 and 2024\u2014a span of just five years\u2014approximately 10,000 complaints regarding fraud have been registered. Bhupendrasinh Jhala of BZ Solutions, who orchestrated a fraud exceeding \u20b96,000 crore under the guise of a lucrative compensation scheme for common and middle-class families, [was present] in the company of BJP State President Mr. C.R. Patil, the Education Minister, the former Home Minister, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, and other top BJP functionaries and MLAs on January 18…Why is the BJP government silent on the inauguration events of 2024? How is it possible to open commercial offices under the name ‘BZ Solutions’ without the local administration’s patronage? Strict action must be taken against the racket of looting people through Ponzi schemes\u2014prevalent across various districts, cities, and small towns in Gujarat\u2014to prevent poor and middle-class families from falling victim to them.<\/p>\n
28-11-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Drugs worth crores are being smuggled into Gujarat due to the collusion between the BJP government and Adani: Youth Congress<\/p>\n
\u00b7 A conspiracy is underway under the BJP government to ruin the youth by smuggling drugs into the country: Udaybhanu Chib<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Gujarat State Youth Congress stages a massive protest with the slogan ‘Give jobs, not drugs’<\/p>\n
The Gujarat State Youth Congress staged a protest by laying siege to the Adani Port in Mundra, Kutch. Office-bearers from across Gujarat participated in this protest alongside All India Youth Congress President Udaybhanu Chib and Gujarat State Youth Congress President Harpalsinh Chudasama.<\/p>\n
The Gujarat State Youth Congress demanded action, highlighting that drugs worth crores are being smuggled into the country via Mundra Port due to the collusion between the current BJP government and Adani, thereby ruining the nation’s youth; the protest was held under the slogan “Give jobs, not drugs.”<\/p>\n
All India Youth Congress President Udaybhanu Chib stated that the BJP government is ruining the youth not only of Gujarat but of the entire country. Due to the collusion between the BJP government and Adani, morphine worth over \u20b950,000 crore has been seized from Mundra Port. The people of the country know at whose behest these drugs are arriving. Despite possessing all the information, the government is taking no action. The BJP government is engaging in an act akin to being anti-national by ruining the country’s youth. Today’s youth need jobs, not drugs. The National President of the Youth Congress remarked that the BJP government is ruining the youth by allowing drugs worth crores of rupees to be brought in from abroad.<\/p>\n
Adani is tarnishing ‘Bharat Mata’s’ image: Uday Bhanu Chib<\/p>\n
Adani is tarnishing India’s image as well. The Adani Group has become a hub of corruption. Countries like the USA, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Kenya have blacklisted the Adani company, and protests are being held against it. This has severely damaged ‘Bharat Mata’s’ image globally. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of patriotism, the Adani Group is tarnishing the nation’s image, yet the Prime Minister is shielding Adani\u2014this was stated by All India Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib.<\/p>\n
Gujarat State Youth Congress President Harpal Singh stated that the Youth Congress would fight for the cause of the youth in the times ahead. Unemployment is currently very high in Gujarat; the state’s youth possess degrees but lack jobs. Instead of providing employment, the BJP government is driving the youth toward drug addiction. He expressed concern that the country’s future would be in jeopardy if this continues.<\/p>\n
Meeting of the Gujarat State Youth Congress Extended Executive Committee held<\/p>\n
A meeting of the Gujarat State Youth Congress Extended Executive Committee took place in Mundra. It was presided over by All India Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib, with Gujarat State Youth Congress President Harpal Singh Chudasama also in attendance. Office-bearers from the state, district, and assembly constituency levels participated in the meeting; discussions were held regarding the Youth Congress’s future course of action, and a new action plan was formulated.<\/p>\n
25-11-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The groundwork for snatching away farmers’ agricultural land was laid on October 7, 2001, when Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister of the state. – Manhar Patel<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The BJP government has shut down some public enterprises that promoted agriculture, sold off others, and rendered some defunct. What is the state government’s motive behind rendering some of them defunct? – Manhar Patel<\/p>\n
\u00b7 If agricultural universities dedicated to agricultural research and education are operating without agricultural scientists, whom does the BJP government intend to benefit? – Manhar Patel<\/p>\n
The Gujarat State Export Corporation Limited has been sold off; the Gujarat State Land Use Corporation Limited and Gujarat Land Development Corporation Limited have been shut down; the Gujarat State Seed Corporation Limited and Gujarat State Seed Certification Agency have been abolished; and the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited has ceased all production of agricultural inputs, having been reduced to merely a nodal agency. Between 50% and 80% of staff and officer positions in agricultural universities and the Agriculture Department remain vacant, indicating that in 24 years, the government has failed to effectively run even a single one of these state-owned companies for the benefit of farmers.<\/p>\n
The government has not paid serious attention to this matter.<\/p>\n
Junagadh Agricultural University: Status of vacant posts versus approved posts as of 01.04.2023… (RTI) Information regarding Principal posts in the agricultural colleges listed below under Junagadh Agricultural University:<\/p>\n
Rank<\/p>\n
Name of Post<\/p>\n
Approved Posts<\/p>\n
Filled Posts<\/p>\n
Vacant Posts<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
Principal, Agricultural College, Junagadh<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Principal, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
Principal, P.G.I.A.B.M. College, J.U., Junagadh<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
Principal, College of Horticulture, J.U., Junagadh<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Principal, Agri…Agriculture College, J.U., Amreli<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
Principal, Agriculture College, J.U., Porbandar<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
Total Principals<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
*Out of a total of 6 sanctioned posts, 5 are vacant.<\/p>\n
Status of Class-1 and Class-2 posts in the Agriculture Education, Research, and Extension departments at Junagadh Agricultural University<\/p>\n
Rank<\/p>\n
Name of Post<\/p>\n
Sanctioned Posts<\/p>\n
Filled Posts<\/p>\n
Vacant Posts<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
Professor<\/p>\n
20<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
19<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Associate Professor<\/p>\n
38<\/p>\n
13<\/p>\n
25<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
Assistant Professor<\/p>\n
66<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
36<\/p>\n
Total<\/p>\n
124<\/p>\n
44<\/p>\n
80<\/p>\n
*Out of a total of 124 sanctioned posts, 80 are vacant.<\/p>\n
Junagadh Agricultural University\u2014where agricultural research and education activities are conducted at a cost of crores of rupees\u2014lacks principals in five of its colleges, and a total of 80 Class-1 and Class-2 posts required for education and research work remain vacant. Notably, 19 out of the 20 essential posts for Department Heads (Professors) at the university are unfilled. This makes it easy to gauge the likely pace and quality of agricultural research and education activities. The situation in the state’s Agriculture Department is similar; the post of the Director of Agriculture\u2014the head of the state’s agricultural regulatory office\u2014has been vacant on an ad-hoc basis for three years and remains unfilled to this day. This clearly indicates that the state government has no interest in serving the agricultural sector or the farmers.<\/p>\n
Information regarding Class-1 and Class-2 posts in the office of the Director of Agriculture, Agriculture Department, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar, as of 01.01.2023. (RTI)<\/p>\n
Rank<\/p>\n
Name of Post<\/p>\n
Sanctioned Posts<\/p>\n
Filled Posts<\/p>\n
Vacant Posts<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
Director of Agriculture<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Additional Director of Agriculture<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
3<\/p>\n
Joint Director of Agriculture<\/p>\n
15<\/p>\n
11<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
Deputy Director of Agriculture<\/p>\n
137<\/p>\n
112<\/p>\n
25<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Assistant Director of Agriculture<\/p>\n
296<\/p>\n
296<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
Agriculture Officer<\/p>\n
393<\/p>\n
304<\/p>\n
89<\/p>\n
849<\/p>\n
729<\/p>\n
120<\/p>\n
Status of total employees in the Gujarat State Seed Corporation Limited office as of 01.01.2021. (RTI)<\/p>\n
Section<\/p>\n
Year<\/p>\n
Sanctioned Posts<\/p>\n
Filled Posts<\/p>\n
Vacant Posts<\/p>\n
1<\/p>\n
01.01.1990<\/p>\n
356<\/p>\n
233<\/p>\n
123<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
01.04.2021<\/p>\n
204<\/p>\n
100<\/p>\n
104<\/p>\n
In 1990, there were 356 sanctioned posts, of which 233 were filled; whereas in 2021, the sanctioned posts dropped to 204, with 104 remaining vacant. Today, in 2024, according to our information, only 56 posts are filled. Thus, the BJP government has downsized the Gujarat State Seed Corporation Limited office, demonstrating the extent of the state government’s regard for farmers and agriculture. By outsourcing the task of supplying seeds to farmers to private seed producers, it has effectively achieved the goal of shutting down the Gujarat State Seed Corporation. The situation is similar at the Gujarat State Seed Certification Agency; where there were once 400 employees\/officers, today there are only three. Such factors create numerous difficulties for farmers. We have consistently argued that agriculture produces raw materials for every industry; if we destroy agriculture, how can industry survive? The entire BJP family and the government need to come to their senses.<\/p>\n
22-11-2024<\/p>\n
India has an Agriculture Minister. It is essential for the industry to progress alongside the nation, but the industry must not cause losses to the public exchequer at the expense of agriculture. The industry should be free from corruption. Gujarat witnessed the highest capital investment during the 1992-93 period. The Congress government at the time aimed to attract industries without harming agriculture and formulated inclusive policies to prevent any single industry from establishing a monopoly. In contrast, the BJP government has pursued a policy of “looting the people and looting the public exchequer.” Demanding a thorough investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the serious allegations of a \u20b92,100 crore bribery scandal involving the Adani Group, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Shaktisinh Gohil stated that during the Congress regime, Asia’s largest refinery was established in Jamnagar despite competition between Reliance and Essar; both Gujarat and the entire country are reaping the benefits of this. A General Motors car manufacturing plant was set up in the Panchmahal district to foster development in tribal areas, creating large-scale employment opportunities for local residents. There seem to be no rules or laws applicable to BJP-linked businessmen. Under BJP rule, the common man is now echoing the slogan “Neither will I take a bribe, nor will I let others take one”\u2014yet this is precisely what is happening: “Modi and Adani are brothers; you have looted the treasury\u2014you have looted the public’s wealth.” The public’s wealth is being looted.<\/p>\n
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)\u2014the body that protects investor interests in the US\u2014has alleged that Gautam Adani and seven of his associates orchestrated a scheme involving \u20b92,000 crore ($250 million) in bribes to secure lucrative solar power contracts in India. The US allegations state that between 2020 and 2024, Adani and his associates offered bribes to Indian government officials to secure contracts yielding profits exceeding \u20b916,000 crore ($2 billion). These contracts were located in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Four of these states are governed by opposition parties, while Jammu and Kashmir was under direct central rule (President’s Rule). Recent solar power contracts at inflated prices in BJP-ruled states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra also exhibit a similar pattern.<\/p>\n
“Who is Adani to us?” \u2014 the Congress party [questioned] the Prime Minister’s [ties to] Adani……had asked 100 questions regarding close ties. Adani acquired airports, ports, media companies, and cement plants\u2014acquisitions that took place under the Prime Minister’s watch. Yet, no impartial investigation was conducted. Conversely, agencies are being consistently misused to target opposition leaders, fracture opposition parties, and imprison opposition Chief Ministers. Agencies responsible for investigating white-collar crime\u2014such as SEBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax Department\u2014have not only failed to investigate Adani despite credible allegations, but some of their investigations have also been halted on orders from higher authorities.<\/p>\n
This is why the investigation into Adani is originating from international jurisdictions like the US. So, why is this considered a crime in the US? The allegations against Gautam Adani and his associates specifically involve violations of US laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and federal securities acts. The FCPA prohibits US persons, businesses, and foreign companies listed on US stock exchanges from engaging in activities linked to the US that involve bribing foreign officials or foreign companies. Adani\u2019s associates are also accused of securities fraud for misleading US investors. Adani Green Energy Limited is accused of raising over $175 million from US investors without disclosing these activities, thereby violating federal securities laws. The allegations include the use of electronic communications to commit fraud and the existence of a “bribery note.” Conspiring to offer bribes via electronic means to US investors and financial institutions constitutes fraud under US law.<\/p>\n
1. Bribery is a crime in India: Bribery is illegal under Indian law as well; whether or not it is a crime in the US is a secondary matter for Indians.<\/p>\n
2. Violation of SEBI regulations: The allegations indicate that Adani falsely claimed to Indian stock exchanges that no investigation was underway, which constitutes a clear violation of SEBI regulations. 3. Impact on Electricity Prices: Adani Group’s Scams Have Directly Driven Up Costs<\/p>\n
Allegations state that bribes were paid to DISCOMs to induce them to purchase solar power at rates higher than the actual cost passed on to consumers. Additionally, electricity prices were inflated by earlier allegations regarding the over-invoicing of coal and power equipment. For instance, the price of coal exported from Indonesia to Mundra, Gujarat, surged by up to 50% before reaching India. This over-priced coal, purchased by Adani Power, caused electricity rates in Gujarat to double between 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n
Funds generated through coal over-invoicing were allegedly used to create *benami* (proxy) holdings in Adani Group companies, in violation of SEBI regulations. These activities artificially inflated Adani’s share prices, putting 100 million Indian investors in the stock market at risk. These significant moves by the SEC stand in stark contrast to SEBI’s failure to complete the Adani investigation, even 20 months after the Supreme Court-appointed committee set a two-month deadline. The financial ties between SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and Adani raise serious concerns regarding this delay.<\/p>\n
The Congress party is demanding a full investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into these serious bribery allegations, for which concrete evidence is claimed to exist. If the BJP believes that opposition-ruled states and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir are implicated, does it not also acknowledge that Adani bribed officials? Is this not a crime? Why are opposition Chief Ministers arrested over allegations involving \u20b931 crore or \u20b9100 crore, yet no action is taken regarding allegations involving \u20b9100 crore? Why is a close associate of the Prime Minister roaming free despite allegations involving \u20b92,000 crore? Such selective enforcement of the law is an insult to the nation. Dr. Manish Doshi (Media Convener and Spokesperson, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee), Shri Hemang Raval (Co-convener and Spokesperson), and Spokespersons Shri Naishad Desai, Hiren Banker, and Shri Parthivrajsinh Kathvadia were present at the press conference held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan.<\/p>\n
21\u201311\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Kartik Patel of the Khyati Group has perpetrated a scam worth \u20b9350 crore involving land and education.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 83,885 sq. m. of land was allotted to ‘Vinay Kamlesh Gurukul’ for the purpose of establishing a *Gurukul* (educational institution); however, the organization violated the terms of the allotment.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Gandhinagar District Collector had initiated official proceedings regarding the site due to these violations, in accordance with the rules; however, the Collector’s order was subsequently overturned following an appeal to the Additional Secretary\u2014a move that raises serious suspicions.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Even before the District Collector’s order regarding the land proceedings and the Additional Secretary’s decision to overturn the Collector’s ruling, the organization had already commenced operations after securing approval for ‘Khyati World School’.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The land was allotted to serve the public by establishing a *Gurukul*, but the objective was altered; Kartik Patel\u2019s actions involved violating terms to generate profit.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 And the team has indeed executed this.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The land is registered in the name of Jayesh Patel’s organization, ‘Vinay Kamlesh Gurukul’, and Kartik Patel’s name does not appear in the records; so, how did Kartik Patel become the Chairman of ‘Khyati World School’, which was established on that very land?<\/p>\n
Details: At Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Ahmedabad.Addressing a press conference, Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, exposed a \u20b9350 crore scam allegedly perpetrated by Kartik Patel of the Khyati Group involving land and education. The land\u2014spanning over 33 *bighas* and intended for the Khyati World School in Rancharda village, Kalol taluka, Gandhinagar (near Ahmedabad)\u2014was used in public violation of the purpose for which it was originally allocated. On August 21, 1992, the Mehsana District Collector had allotted 83,885 square meters of land (comprising six survey numbers under Khata number 910) to ‘Vinay Kamlesh Gurukul’ specifically for the establishment of a *gurukul*. This allotment came with specific conditions, stipulating that the government would immediately reclaim the land if any terms were breached. When the government discovered that ‘Vinay Kamlesh Gurukul’ had leased the land to the Calorx Foundation, the Gandhinagar District Collector ordered the government to take possession of the entire property (Order dated December 11, 2014; Note No. 9139). Subsequently, the organization approached the Additional Secretary, who overturned the District Collector’s decision via Note No. 10034, dated January 9, 2018. Given that a breach of conditions would result in a loss of land for the government, on what grounds did the Additional Secretary grant this benefit to the organization? Did the government official make this decision at the behest of a political leader? Or was there major corruption at the secretary level? This raises a significant question. Meanwhile, Kartik Patel, the head of the Khyati Group, managed to gain control over ‘Vinay Kamlesh Gurukul’. Even before the Gandhinagar District Collector issued orders regarding the land issue and the Additional Secretary subsequently overturned the Collector’s decision, the organization had already launched ‘Khyati World School’ after securing the necessary school approvals. Kartik Patel\u2019s name appears everywhere in connection with these lands, yet the organization is registered in the name of Jayantibhai Patel; it is baffling how Kartik Patel became the Chairman of the famous World School established on that land and how he managed to infiltrate the trust\u2014a matter that warrants an investigation. The government allocated this land to serve the public by establishing a *Gurukul* (educational institution), but Kartik Patel and his team have deviated from that objective, violated terms and conditions, and are profiting by running a private school with exorbitant fees; the organization has even rented out the premises for private classes and is conducting an education business worth crores of rupees. An example should be set by registering cases\u2014such as land grabbing\u2014against those who amass crores through the misuse of government land in this manner. Will the ‘Dada’s bulldozer’ roll over such corrupt individuals, and will action be taken against this malfeasance? We demand that the land transaction involving Kartik Patel and Khyati World School\u2014valued at over \u20b9350 crore\u2014be immediately registered in accordance with the rules and that strict action be taken.<\/p>\n
21-11-2024<\/p>\n
Major scam by international cyber-mafia exposed<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Fake AI-generated videos of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, and renowned industrialist Shri Narayana Murthy are being used to defraud people.<\/p>\n
: Hemang Raval<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The government must immediately order Facebook and Meta to remove such fake videos.<\/p>\n
: Hemang Raval<\/p>\n
Shri Hemang Raval, Media Coordinator and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated at a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ahmedabad that on November 21, 2024, a fake video featuring their leader, the respected Smt. Sonia Gandhi, was spotted on Facebook\/Meta; the video depicts her soliciting investments from the public. She never uploaded any such video, and this fake footage was created using Artificial Intelligence. Further investigation reveals that, using the methods described above, cyber fraud is being perpetrated against citizens by creating fake videos featuring prominent industrialist Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah. We have lodged a complaint with the cyber crime authorities regarding this. Since such fake sponsored videos are being run via authorized ‘blue-tick’ accounts on Facebook (Meta), we demand that the gangs extorting money through social media crimes be exposed and the public made aware. Furthermore, the Home Department must take strict action against such cyber mafias to prevent citizens from falling into these traps and losing their money.<\/p>\n
20\u201311\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Yet another example of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s mindset against poor tribals and Dalits.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 During the tenure of the Congress government at the Centre, the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme was introduced on July 1, 2010; under this scheme, tribal students securing admission under the management quota (i.e., paid seats) were eligible to receive the scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre and the government of Gujarat have committed a grave injustice against tribal children by discontinuing this scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 A copy of the circular issued by the Gujarat government on October 28, 2024, was presented during a press conference held at the State Congress Committee office.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Scholarships used to pave the way for a bright future by enabling students to pursue their education. The Bharatiya Janata Party government’s decision to plunge the futures of thousands of such students into darkness is utterly condemnable.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Public awareness campaigns will be conducted in all districts with significant tribal populations.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Petitions were submitted to District Collectors at every district headquarters….in which a request will be made to the government to reinstate scholarships for tribal children who secure admission under the management quota.<\/p>\n
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s anti-poor, anti-tribal, and anti-Dalit mindset has recently been exposed once again. During the tenure of the Congress government at the Centre, the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme was launched on July 1, 2010, to enable tribal children to pursue advanced courses after matriculation. Under this scheme, the funding was shared between the Central government (75%) and the State government (25%), specifically benefiting students from the tribal community\u2014that is, Scheduled Tribes. A key feature of this scheme was that any child from the tribal community securing admission under the management quota (i.e., a paid seat) remained eligible for the scholarship. This scheme provided significant financial assistance to lakhs of children across Gujarat and the country for their post-matriculation studies. By discontinuing this scholarship for tribal children, the BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat have committed a grave injustice against them. The Gujarat government recently issued a circular deciding that, henceforth, no scholarship will be provided to any tribal child (Scheduled Tribe student) admitted under the management quota (paid seat) after matriculation. A copy of the circular, which the Gujarat government had released to the press and media on October 28, 2024, was made available during a press conference held at the State Congress Committee office.<\/p>\n
Many talented children from Gujarat’s tribal community are pursuing post-matriculation courses\u2014such as Nursing, Pharmacy, Degree Engineering, Diploma Engineering, MBA, MCA, M.E., and M.Pharm, as well as various paramedical courses\u2014through the management quota. The scholarship had been instrumental in securing a bright future for these students by enabling them to pursue their education. The BJP government’s decision to jeopardize the future of thousands of such students is utterly condemnable. This year alone, 3,700 students from the tribal community (ST category) have enrolled in technical courses, and they will now be denied the scholarship. State Congress Committee President Shri Shaktisinh Gohil, Congress MLA Shri Kantibhai Kharadi, State Congress ST (Tribal) Wing President Shri Rajubhai Pargi, Gujarat Congress Media Coordinator and Spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi, and Spokesperson Shri Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia held a press conference at the State Congress office to reveal these facts. They demanded that the government immediately revoke this humiliating decision and reinstate the scholarships that were provided to children from tribal communities during the Congress tenure.<\/p>\n
To protest this grave injustice against the tribal community, the State Congress Committee’s tribal wing will launch public awareness campaigns across all tribal-dominated districts. Memorandums will be submitted to District Collectors at every district headquarters, demanding that the government restore scholarships for tribal students admitted under the management quota. The Congress party’s tribal wing will also stage necessary protests and agitations at railway stations; furthermore, MLAs, former MLAs, and leaders from tribal areas will reach out to the public to highlight the injustice inflicted upon the tribal community by the Bharatiya Janata Party and demand the resumption of management quota scholarships for tribal students.<\/p>\n
12-11-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Medical mafia is rampant in Gujarat: Hemang Raval<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Plan to raise funds for ‘Jeevan Cards’ for the poor by organizing medical camps: Hemang Raval<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Minister Rishikeshbhai Patel’s mysterious silence regarding the angioplasty scandal in the Chief Minister’s constituency.<\/p>\n
Recently, major scandals involving patients losing their eyesight following cataract surgeries came to light in Mandal, Amreli, Rajkot, Jasdan, and other areas of Gujarat; yet, neither the government nor the system learned any lessons from these incidents. Unauthorized ‘direct stenting’ procedures\u2014specifically angioplasties\u2014were performed; according to reports, two (2) patients have died, and approximately five (5) others are currently in the ICU, battling for their lives while undergoing treatment. The patients’ families allege that their loved ones underwent angioplasty\u2014despite there being no medical need for eye surgery\u2014and subsequently died due to negligence. Furthermore, preliminary information indicates that funds were deducted from these patients’ Ayushman card accounts.<\/p>\n
Thus, the ‘medical mafia’ has run rampant under the Bharatiya Janata Party government. While dedicated and altruistic doctors work with integrity, this medical mafia is jeopardizing the reputation of such honest professionals.<\/p>\n
Previously, patients in Gujarat lost their eyesight due to a blindness scandal; now, with patients losing their lives in this angioplasty scandal, Minister Mr. Rishikeshbhai Patel has maintained complete silence and has yet to issue a statement on the matter.<\/p>\n
This is a systematic scam by the medical mafia, wherein funds are siphoned off from the Ayushman cards of poor patients\u2014putting their lives at risk\u2014and complaints regarding the large-scale misuse of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds have also surfaced.<\/p>\n
It is also a matter of condemnation for the government that such a scam is taking place in the Chief Minister’s own constituency. On one hand, those over the age of 70…While massive election advertisements are being run highlighting the distribution of Ayushman cards to people of various age groups, the “medical mafia” is simultaneously misusing these very cards and endangering patients’ lives. It is, therefore, crucial for the government to demonstrate proactive governance by taking strict action against those responsible. Furthermore, the state Congress demands immediate financial assistance of \u20b91 crore for the families of those who have lost their lives due to negligence.<\/p>\n
08-11-2024<\/p>\n
* Cash and property worth \u20b94,93,72,247 have been stolen from temples in Gujarat over the last three years.<\/p>\n
* A total of 501 incidents of theft in temples have occurred under the rule of the BJP government, which champions the cause of Hindutva.<\/p>\n
* The Congress party demands the formation of a special task force to ensure the security of temples in Gujarat.<\/p>\n
While incidents of theft, robbery, and raids have surged in Gujarat, the BJP government\u2014which invokes Hindutva\u2014has failed to secure even temples and deities. Hiren Banker, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that incidents of theft, robbery, and raids are on the rise at various religious sites across the state, including the *Shaktipeeth* at Pavagadh\u2014a place of faith for crores of Gujaratis. Thieves in the state typically target residential and commercial areas, but now, temples are also falling prey to theft and robbery. The government, which champions Hindutva, is proving incapable of protecting temples and deities. Over the past three years, thefts totaling \u20b91,00,000 crore have occurred in Gujarat. During the BJP government’s tenure, cash and capital goods worth \u20b94,93,72,247 have been stolen from temples. A total of 501 theft incidents were recorded across temples in Gujarat: 151 incidents in 2020-21, 178 in 2021-22, and 172 in 2022-23. There have also been five incidents of armed raids\u2014a matter of grave concern\u2014which expose the hollowness of the government’s grand claims regarding security. The government is attempting to secure temples\u2014symbols of faith for the people of Gujarat\u2014against incidents of robbery and theft by installing CCTV cameras. Is the BJP, which engages in politics in the name of God, concerned only with shoring up its vote bank? Even during the holy festival of Navratri, when women and girls are being raped, usurers and bootleggers hold sway, and the illicit trade of alcohol and drugs runs rampant, the safety of Gujarat is left to the mercy of God. The reality under the BJP government\u2014which claims to ensure public safety\u2014is quite different from its assertions. There is a massive shortage of police personnel in Gujarat. With police strength falling below the national average, the Congress party demands immediate recruitment to ensure robust security management for citizens, enhanced security for all temples across the state, and the formation of a special task force dedicated to temple security. Details of thefts and the value of stolen cash and valuables over the years:<\/p>\n
01.10.2020 to 30.09.2021: 151 incidents | Value: \u20b98,54,47,322<\/p>\n
01.10.2021 to 30.09.2022: 178 incidents | Value: \u20b91,90,77,305<\/p>\n
01.10.2022 to 30.09.2023: 172 incidents | Value: \u20b92,17,47,620<\/p>\n
Over the three-year period:<\/p>\n
Total thefts: 501 | Total value of thefts: \u20b94,93,72,247<\/p>\n
28-10-2024<\/p>\n
Shri Rajesh Soni, General Secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated in a press conference that an accident at a textile company named ‘Devi Synthetic’ in Narol resulted in two deaths; four individuals are on ventilators, and three others are hospitalized. The incident occurred due to a chemical reaction caused by the mixing of sulfuric acid and baking soda while a container was being unloaded. Sulfuric acid falls under the category of hazardous waste; handling such waste requires permission under Rule 9 of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board regulations, as well as an acid storage license from the Health Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. In a response dated 23\/07\/2024 to an RTI query (ID No. 457), the Gujarat Pollution Control Board clearly stated that Devi Synthetic had not obtained any permission under Rule 9. According to information provided in response to an RTI query by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Health Department, this company has not obtained any license for acid storage. Without possessing the requisite licenses, the company is not permitted to use this type of hazardous acid.<\/p>\n
How was this allowed to continue? The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Health Department issued a show-cause notice to the company on August 2, 2024; in response, the company submitted a misleading reply on its letterhead on August 3, 2024, explicitly claiming to hold a hazardous waste certificate and an acid storage license. Currently, the Health Department holds an agreement regarding hazardous waste with a company named Safe Environment Private Limited (Certificate No. 102828), valid from July 5, 2021, to July 5, 2026. If, according to the GPCB’s response, this company lacks a hazardous waste permit, what could be the reason for sending such false letters to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation? The Corporation issued license number 41\/2024-25 to the company for processing operations, yet that license makes no mention of an acid storage license. On August 21, 2024, the Solid Waste Management Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation imposed a fine of \u20b910,000 (Challan No. MCHLN20240821108693) for failure to properly clean the premises. Was the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Health Department unaware that…Does this company lack a license for acid storage? For four months, local leaders and residents had been lodging written complaints against this company with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Health Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Yet, neither department took action; it is evident that officials from the GPCB and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation were aware of the situation. Officials in the Corporation’s Health Department knew the company lacked any license to use sulfuric acid and that the evidence submitted to the Corporation was entirely fabricated. However, officials turned a blind eye and waited until lives were lost before taking any action. Following protests and public outcry, a closure notice (Outward No. 825634, dated 28\/10\/2024) was issued to the company due to the lack of ‘Rule-9′ approval, and a fine of \u20b925,00,000 (twenty-five lakh rupees) was imposed. To date, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has taken no action in this matter. No action has been taken against GPCB and Health Department officials for corruption and negligence of duty. We clearly demand the immediate suspension of the responsible officials, their inclusion as accused persons in the police complaint, and the provision of financial assistance to the affected families.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference, Shri Hemang Raval, Media Co-convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress, stated that the government must provide financial assistance of \u20b91 crore to the families of the innocent workers who lost their lives in the Narol gas leak incident, and \u20b950 lakh to the injured. We have demanded strict legal action against the Gujarat state officials whose corruption led to the loss of these lives. 28\u201310\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 In the state of Gujarat, 992 workers have lost their lives in factory accidents over the past five years.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Among factory accidents in Gujarat, the highest number of fatalities occurred in Surat, where 155 workers lost their lives.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Factory accidents claimed the lives of 126 workers in Ahmedabad city and 92 workers in Valsad.<\/p>\n
Addressing the media, Parthivrajsinh Kathvadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that innocent workers are losing their lives due to the negligence and corruption of Gujarat’s government departments. According to data on industrial safety and health from the Gujarat Labour Department, 992 workers have died in factory accidents over a five-year period. Between 2018 and 2022, the highest number of fatalities in the state occurred in Surat; the district saw 155 worker deaths due to factory accidents during this time. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad district recorded 126 worker deaths, and Valsad district recorded 92 worker deaths in factory accidents over the same five-year span.<\/p>\n
Two people lost their lives in a gas leak incident at a factory in Narol, and four workers remain in critical condition. Prior to this, innocent workers had lost their lives in factory accidents in Kutch and Vadodara. With 20,433 factories generating hazardous waste in Gujarat as of 2021, the lives of the state’s residents are being put at risk. Regulations are being openly flouted with the tacit approval of the Gujarat State Pollution Control Board and government officials. Violations of environmental norms in the state are endangering the lives of the people of Gujarat. There is an urgent demand for immediate inspections of factories manufacturing hazardous materials and for swift action against factories and industries in Gujarat state that violate environmental regulations.<\/p>\n
Major factory accidents in October 2024<\/p>\n
Date<\/p>\n
Details<\/p>\n
Casualty\/Accident Statistics<\/p>\n
27-10-2024<\/p>\n
Gas leak at Devi Synthetics, Narol<\/p>\n
2 workers dead, 4 critically injured<\/p>\n
15-10-2024<\/p>\n
Gas leak at Emami Agrotech, Kandla<\/p>\n
5 workers dead<\/p>\n
12-10-2024<\/p>\n
Crushed under a wall in Kadi Taluka<\/p>\n
9 workers dead<\/p>\n
Number of workers killed in factory accidents over the last five years<\/p>\n
District<\/p>\n
Number<\/p>\n
Surat<\/p>\n
155<\/p>\n
Ahmedabad<\/p>\n
126<\/p>\n
Morbi<\/p>\n
114<\/p>\n
Bharuch<\/p>\n
98<\/p>\n
Valsad<\/p>\n
92<\/p>\n
Kutch<\/p>\n
71<\/p>\n
25-10-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 BJP Councilor from Navrangpura deceived the public by submitting false documents<\/p>\n
Fraud<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Demand to file a complaint against the BJP councilor elected on the basis of false documents<\/p>\n
Ahmedabad City Congress President Mr. Himmatsinh Patel stated in a press conference that BJP candidate Mr. Nirav Jagdishbhai Kavi filed his nomination form for the Navrangpura Ward Municipal Corporation election on 5\/2\/2021, listing his date of birth as 11\/11\/1977, which is incorrect. His actual date of birth is 1\/6\/1975. He provided the incorrect date of birth with the malicious intent of preventing the true facts and evidence from reaching the voters and the official record; based on this false date, documents such as his Aadhaar card, voter ID, and PAN card were subsequently created. When Jaykumar Patel, the Congress candidate from Navrangpura ward, learned of this, he first lodged a written complaint with the police; however, as no action was taken by the police, a criminal case was filed in the Ahmedabad Metropolitan Magistrate Court No. 23 under Sections 191, 192, 193, 196, 199, 414, and 420 of the IPC. To prove that Nirav Kavi’s…The actual date of birth was confirmed as 1\/6\/1975; representatives from Pankaj Vidyalaya and Samarth High School submitted statements and school register records to the learned court, substantiating this date. Although the learned court initially dismissed the complaint under Section 203 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a criminal revision application (No. 16\/2023) was subsequently filed in the Ahmedabad City Civil and Sessions Court. On October 21, 2024, the judge set aside the trial court’s order and directed that a complaint be registered and process issued against BJP Municipal Councilor Nirav Kavi under the aforementioned sections.<\/p>\n
A legal battle against the BJP regarding Jay Patel’s case has been consistently fought by the Congress party’s legal team, comprising Legal Cell Chairman Mr. Kalpesh Patel, Convener U.D. Shekhawat, and Advocate Arvind Vaniya.<\/p>\n
Dr. Manish Doshi (Media Convener and Spokesperson, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee), Mr. Kalpesh Patel (Chairman, Ahmedabad City Legal Cell), Mr. U.D. Shekhawat (Convener, Ahmedabad City Legal Cell), and Mr. Jaykumar Patel (Congress candidate from Navrangpura Ward) were present at the press conference. 22-10-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Farmers are crying out for water at night, yet the government remains silent: Shri Lalit Kagathara<\/p>\n
\u00b7 We will take to the streets for the farmers if necessary: \u200b\u200bShri Lalit Kagathara<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Congress party will launch a movement for justice for farmers across Gujarat starting October 28: Shri Lalit Vasoya<\/p>\n
\u00b7 We will hold a farmers’ conference in Saurashtra on November 6: Shri Lalit Vasoya<\/p>\n
\u00b7 According to the NCRB report, the farmer suicide rate has risen by 11 percent: Dr. Kirit Patel<\/p>\n
\u00b7 If industrialists’ debts worth billions can be waived, why can’t farmers’ loans be waived?: Dr. Kirit Patel<\/p>\n
\u00b7 A ‘green drought’ should be declared in the 104 talukas of Gujarat that received over 140% rainfall: Pal Ambalia<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Congress will have farmers fill out legal forms to seek crop loan waivers in these 104 talukas: Pal Ambalia<\/p>\n
Addressing the issue of losses and the hardships faced by farmers due to excessive and unseasonal rainfall, a press conference was held at the Congress party’s Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan. It was addressed by State Congress Committee Working President Shri Lalit Kagathara, Rajkot District Congress Committee President Shri Lalit Vasoya, MLA Dr. Kirit Patel, and Gujarat Kisan Congress Chairman Shri Palbhai Ambalia. Discussions during the event covered topics such as excessive rainfall, unseasonal rain, eco-sensitive zones, and the livelihoods of sheep herders.<\/p>\n
State Congress Committee Working President Shri Lalit Kagathara stated that, as a farmer’s son, he could not recall ever witnessing four inches of rain during Diwali. Currently, the farmers’ ready-to-harvest crops are being battered by the elements. Nature has snatched the joy from the farmers’ lives through a combination of heavy rainfall and unseasonal showers. Farmers are currently weeping at night, desperate for water. Despite their dire situation, their grievances fail to reach the government, or perhaps the government simply chooses not to listen. While nature is beyond anyone’s control, shouldn’t the government at least listen? During the Congress era, the BJP discontinued the crop insurance scheme launched by the late Rajiv Gandhi and implemented the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which benefited private insurance companies to the tune of crores of rupees. Following widespread protests, the BJP government in Gujarat scrapped the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and introduced the new ‘Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’. Although this scheme existed on paper for two years, not a single penny was paid out to anyone. Currently, there is no scheme in Gujarat that protects farmers against natural disasters. Farmers continue to suffer; if the government does not listen, how long are we expected to remain silent? If we have to take to the streets to draw the government’s attention, the Congress party is prepared to do so. Despite receiving over 140% rainfall, why is a ‘green drought’ not being declared? We are demanding the farmers’ rights, not begging for alms; if necessary, we will launch agitations at the village and taluka levels.<\/p>\n
Lalitbhai Vasoya, President of the Rajkot District Congress Committee, stated that if the government does not immediately announce a decision regarding various issues faced by farmers, they will launch a statewide agitation starting October 28 to press for farmers’ rights. He added that if the government fails to announce a decision by Diwali, they would convene a general meeting of farmers from Saurashtra in Rajkot on November 6\u2014the fifth day of the harvest season.<\/p>\n
Patan MLA Dr. Kirit<\/p>\n
Patel stated that the BJP government’s policy is to promote industry at the expense of farmers. The BJP government is actively engaged in taking land away from farmers and handing it over to industrialists. While the BJP government has waived loans worth \u20b925 lakh crore for industrialists over the last decade, why are farmers’ loans not being waived? According to the NCRB report, there has been an 11% increase in farmer suicides.<\/p>\n
Kisan Congress Chairman Palbhai Ambalia stated that farmers are grappling with numerous issues, including excessive rainfall, unseasonal rain, eco-sensitive zone regulations, challenges related to sheep rearing, land measurement disputes, and fertilizer shortages. The government has not yet conducted a survey regarding the heavy rainfall that occurred in August, nor has it initiated a survey of the damage caused by unseasonal rains. Although a “green drought” could be declared in 104 talukas of Gujarat under the existing norms, the government is refraining from doing so. Currently, there is a lack of dry fodder for livestock. Fodder distribution centers should be established, as demanded by farmers’ organizations in Saurashtra. Addressing various issues concerning farmers, on October 25, we…With the assistance of “Samyukt Kisan Morcha – Gujarat” and the “Ghed Vikas Samiti,” a “Khedut Mahapanchayat” (Farmers’ Grand Assembly) is being organized; Yogendra Yadav and wrestler Bajrang Punia are also arriving from Delhi to attend. For this event, farmer leaders have appealed to all political parties to participate without displaying their party affiliations.<\/p>\n
21\u201310\u20132024<\/p>\n
Congress delegation members Shri Jaynarayan Vyas, Shri Shailesh Parmar, and Dr. Manish Doshi made presentations before the 16th Finance Commission.<\/p>\n
The delegation emphasized the need to increase the share of tax revenue distributed from the Centre to the states. While the Centre primarily collects major taxes such as income tax, corporate tax, and GST, the states bear the responsibility of providing essential services like education, health, and policing. In light of this, the 16th Finance Commission has recommended increasing the states’ share in tax distribution from 41% to 50%. This change aims to address the long-standing fiscal imbalance between the Centre’s revenue sources and the states’ expenditure responsibilities. The delegation also drew attention to the issue of surcharges and cesses.<\/p>\n
Under Article 270 of the Constitution, surcharges and cesses are excluded from the divisible pool of taxes shared with states; it was suggested that these should be included in the total tax collected by the Centre so that they can become part of the devolution formula.<\/p>\n
Between the years 2009-10 and 2023-24, the Central Government collected \u20b936.6 lakh crore in cesses and surcharges from Gujarat. The state’s contribution to the Centre’s revenue from cesses and surcharges rose from 10.4% in 2011-12 to approximately 28.1% in 2021-22. Collections from surcharges and cesses increased by 133% between 2017-18 and 2022-23. The delegation suggested that a surcharge should generally serve as a strictly temporary mechanism to fund emergencies\u2014such as natural disasters, pandemics, earthquakes, or wars\u2014and should not extend beyond the specific financial year. Necessary funding requirements should be integrated into the tax rates for the following year to ensure states benefit from tax devolution, and these should eventually be incorporated into the common tax framework.<\/p>\n
The delegation highlighted the fiscal burden borne by manufacturing states, which incur costs related to infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental mitigation without receiving the full benefit of GST revenue. While ‘marketing states’ benefit from sales, the manufactured goods are often sold in other states. Citing the example of Gujarat, the delegation noted that the state contributes 18.01% to India’s total industrial output but does not receive commensurate benefits relative to its fiscal efforts.<\/p>\n
A recommendation was made to allocate \u20b95,000 crore over five years for various research and farming-related activities in the agricultural sector. The delegation expressed support for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers; without MSP, farmers might migrate to urban areas for work, potentially jeopardizing food security. It was proposed that this issue undergo a comprehensive review.<\/p>\n
To address the challenges of rapid urbanization, it is essential for states with over 40% urbanization\u2014such as Gujarat\u2014to develop robust infrastructure connecting rural and urban areas. A special package should be formulated to enhance infrastructure facilities in rural regions, thereby curbing migration toward urban centers.<\/p>\n
States like Gujarat, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, Assam, and Chhattisgarh\u2014which maintained low debt-to-GDP ratios in the 2023-24 financial year and demonstrated prudent resource management and fiscal restraint\u2014should be incentivized through an appropriate package.<\/p>\n
Regarding special assistance for small and micro industries, the delegation… It recommended creating a separate fund to boost industries. It called for the enactment of special laws for labor-intensive industries by promoting Small-Scale Industries (SSIs), in line with previous norms.<\/p>\n
Key suggestions:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Increasing the shareable pool from 41% to 50%.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Appointment of a Finance Commission for states for a five-year term.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Direct grants to states and local bodies.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Augmentation of the Disaster Relief Fund and disbursement of funds within 15 days of a disaster.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Special grants for progressive districts.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Special grants for states with low public debt.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Special packages for the revival of small and micro industries.<\/p>\n
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes<\/p>\n
Delegations representing Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes stated that during the era of the Planning Commission, the allocation of schemes was based on population. In our view, that was a superior method. Under NITI Aayog, allocations are made based on specific ‘schemes’ while ignoring population figures; therefore, it is suggested that the methodology previously used by the Planning Commission be adopted.<\/p>\n
Summer temperatures are breaking all records due to environmental degradation. Last year, approximately 4,000 people died from heatstroke. Much like air quality monitoring, states should classify heatstroke as a natural disaster and provide compensation to the families of those who succumb to it. A delegation from the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee presented several issues to the 16th Finance Commission in the greater interest of the people of Gujarat.<\/p>\n
21\u201310\u20132024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Congress party, Dalit organizations, and social organizations will stage a protest outside the DG office on October 23.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Jignesh Mevani and my family…will be held responsible for any killings, encounters, or loss of life and property.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Demand to suspend ADGP Rajkumar Pandian for his misconduct, arrogance, disruptive behavior, breach of protocol, and mistreatment of elected representatives.<\/p>\n
While the Congress party has been consistently fighting for the rights and welfare of the Dalit community in Gujarat, ADGP Rajkumar behaved arrogantly and disruptively, violating protocol and mistreating elected representatives of the Congress party who had gone to raise issues concerning the Dalit community. Jignesh Mevani\u2014Working President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and MLA from Vadgam\u2014has demanded Pandian’s suspension. Mevani stated that anti-social elements and gangsters are pressuring the Dalit community regarding thousands of acres of land to which they are rightfully entitled. Despite repeated written and verbal communications with senior officials across various districts\u2014including Surendranagar and Kutch\u2014regarding these critical issues affecting lakhs of Dalits in Gujarat, no concrete results have been achieved. On October 15, he went to present his case before Mr. Rajkumar Pandian, the Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) for the Gujarat CID (handling SC\/ST and Human Rights matters). Instead of addressing the representation regarding Dalit rights, Mr. Rajkumar Pandian behaved arrogantly and in violation of protocol; he even left his mobile phone outside while meeting the elected public representative. He engaged in insulting behavior by asking trivial questions, such as “What is the government official’s name?” Such arrogant and haughty behavior by any government official in Gujarat should not be tolerated. It is unacceptable for officials appointed to serve the public to treat government offices as if they were their personal property. After all, is the DG’s office not funded by the taxpayers of the state?<\/p>\n
To raise the voice of Gujarat’s Dalits, the Congress party, along with Dalit and social organizations, will stage a protest outside the DG’s office on October 23. This protest is directed against the mistreatment meted out to public representative Shri Jignesh Mevani and Shri Hitendra Pithadiya (President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee’s SC Department), as well as the failed attempt to silence the voices of lakhs of Dalits in Gujarat. Given Shri Rajkumar Pandian’s past record, he will be held responsible for any assassination, encounter, or loss of life involving Jignesh Mevani, Shri Hitendra Pithadiya, or members of my family.<\/p>\n
As a vigilant citizen of Gujarat, I have a few questions for Gujarat Police Officer Shri Rajkumar Pandian:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Who siphoned off \u20b926 crore from the \u20b9300-crore land deal in Bopal-Ghuma?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Which officer demolished 350 spas (ranging in value from \u20b920,000 to \u20b92 lakh)?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Who collects ‘installations’ (extortion money) from factories manufacturing spurious *Mava* and ghee?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Who routed crores of rupees to Dubai via *Hawala* channels using *Angadia* firm accounts?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Which officer uncovered the passport scam?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 On whose advice as an IPS officer was Kausar Bi administered an anesthesia injection?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Which three IPS officers are the administrators of ‘Gaurav, Billu, and Manan’?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Which IPS officer is currently facing a bribery case involving \u20b92 crore in the Surat-Palsana court?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Which IPS officer is under pressure not to register cases against Lavji Badshah and Jayanti Babariya?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Who is the IPS officer known for using abusive language when a 65-year-old peon opens his tiffin late?<\/p>\n
\u00b7<\/p>\n
Shri Hitendra Pithadiya (President, SC Department, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee) and Shri Hiren Banker (Spokesperson, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee) were present at the press conference held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan.<\/p>\n
16-10-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Publish details regarding food vendors caught selling rotten, spoiled, adulterated, or substandard goods to hotels or caterers. List the names of the offenders on the website to raise public awareness and instill fear among these crooks. Gujarat has become a gateway for counterfeit, adulterated, and intoxicating products; the health of the state’s 6.5 crore people is being severely compromised by the “BJP model.” Levelling sensational allegations against the BJP rulers\u2014accusing them of allowing human lives to be jeopardized and fostering corruption worth crores\u2014Gujarat Congress media convener and spokesperson Dr. Manish Doshi stated that whether it is a festival or a regular day, the BJP’s model of adulteration is playing with people’s lives. Despite serious cases involving large-scale adulteration of ghee, paneer, *mawa* (condensed milk solids), and oil, as well as dangerous adulteration in spices\u2014including chili, turmeric, cumin, and fennel\u2014the state government appears unconcerned. The Congress government at the Centre had introduced the Food Safety Act in 2006, but the BJP has effectively discarded it, giving a free hand to adulterators. By shielding those who adulterate food, the BJP government is endangering public health. Large-scale adulteration is even being observed in life-saving medicines. Food vendors caught selling rotten, spoiled, adulterated, or substandard goods to hotels or caterers must have their details published. The names of the offenders should be posted on the website to raise public awareness and instill fear among these unscrupulous elements. In the state’s eight major cities, out of 3,500 food-related cases registered over the last 15 years, only 350 have been resolved! The penalties for adulterators are trivial, resulting in a complete lack of fear.<\/p>\n
The details regarding the operations of the municipal corporation’s Food and Safety Department are shocking! And during the Diwali festival in the city, thousands of shops, hotels, or caterers…Various snacks, *farsan* (savory snacks), *namkeen*, and sweets are produced in different food factories. Shopkeepers often use substandard, adulterated, rotten, or stale ingredients, directly jeopardizing public health.<\/p>\n
To apprehend traders producing these unwholesome sweets and snacks and to curb such practices, the Health Department of the Municipal Corporation conducts raids. They collect food samples and send them to the Food and Drugs Laboratory for testing. However, the surprising\u2014and concerning\u2014fact is that the test reports for these samples take 14 to 15 days to arrive. By then, the shopkeeper has already sold the products to the public. If the samples fail the test or are declared unsafe after those 15 days\u2014by which time people have already consumed the food\u2014the authorities file a complaint in the Municipal Corporation court and await a verdict. What is the point of such action after the food has already been consumed? It is a cruel joke played on the people of Gujarat.<\/p>\n
While 300 food inspectors are required to serve the 20 million (2 crore) people living in the state’s eight metropolitan areas, only 35 safety inspectors are currently on duty. In Ahmedabad, a city with a population of 7 million (70 lakh), there are only 16 food safety officers across 48 wards; this makes it difficult to monitor and maintain food quality or prevent traders from profiting at the expense of public health. Furthermore, there is only one ‘Food Safety on Wheels’ (mobile lab) in the city, and only four across the entire state, and their operational effectiveness is inadequate. Cases of diarrhea, vomiting, and food poisoning are on the rise in the city. The system needs to prioritize ensuring that people have access to clean and nutritious food. Three types of cases are filed regarding food products: those involving misbranding and those involving substandard quality. Cases in both these categories are presented before the Additional Collector by the Food and Drugs Department and the state government’s Food Officer; however, their resolution often faces significant delays. In contrast, cases involving ‘unsafe’ food are filed in court. From the city, only about 15 to 20 cases of unsafe food are filed in court annually.<\/p>\n
The location of any shop from which a suspected food sample is collected should be made available on the Corporation’s website so that the public can avoid purchasing from that shop and thereby prevent illness or death. Furthermore, if a shopkeeper gains a bad reputation, people would stop buying from them, serving as a deterrent. The government should establish a testing facility capable of delivering food sample test results within 48 hours. Currently, no such information is available online, and Corporation authorities are engaging in corrupt practices to shield these shopkeepers. The Corporation’s Health Department should set up a 24-hour helpline to ensure immediate sample collection upon receiving a complaint. Under the current system, if a citizen lodges a complaint today, the Corporation collects the sample the next day; the trader is informed in the process, allowing them to become alert and hide the substandard goods, thereby evading detection.<\/p>\n
Date: 04.08.2024<\/p>\n
\u2022 Despite the Central Government’s recommendation to enact legislation addressing the alarming state of groundwater across the country, the BJP government in Gujarat has failed to frame any law regarding groundwater even after 18 years.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The BJP government, which has been embroiled in ‘scams’ worth crores of rupees under the guise of various schemes like *Khet Talavadi* (farm ponds), *Boribandh* (sandbag check dams), and *Sujalam Sufalam*, has now announced a new scheme for tube-well recharging. Despite the Central Government’s recommendation to enact legislation addressing the alarming state of groundwater across the country, the BJP government in Gujarat has failed to frame any law regarding groundwater even after 18 years. The BJP government\u2014accused of multi-crore rupee ‘scams’ under schemes like *Khet Talavadi*, *Boribandh*, and *Sujalam Sufalam*\u2014has now announced a new scheme for tube-well recharging. Launching a scathing attack on the corruption involving water-related funds under the BJP government, Dr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that groundwater levels in Gujarat have been steadily depleting for years. Yet, despite the Centre formulating a ‘Model Bill on Groundwater’ in 2005, the Gujarat government has taken no concrete action on it even after 18 years. Although the Parliament and the courts have repeatedly issued orders and directives to all states to implement this, the Gujarat government has neither taken the matter seriously nor passed the necessary legislation.<\/p>\n
According to the Board, 16 major states have enacted laws on this subject and taken steps towards their implementation. These states include Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Telangana, along with other Union Territories. Furthermore, in December 2023, the Ministry of Jal Shakti stated that 15 states and six Union Territories had passed the Model Bill in their respective legislatures and enacted it into law; unfortunately, Gujarat is not on that list. A CAG report tabled in the Gujarat Assembly in 2018 also criticized the state government for failing to implement the law and expressed concern over the critical state of groundwater. Meanwhile, a CPCB report had also raised serious concerns regarding the fact that Gujarat had already utilized 68% of its groundwater resources.The situation is even worse today. Dr. Manish Doshi, Media Convener and Spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, targeted the BJP government for opening new avenues of corruption by introducing fresh water-related schemes in collusion with contractors every five years. He stated that the Gujarat government merely pays lip service to the issue of water. It has introduced corruption-riddled schemes\u2014such as ‘Khet Talavdi’ (farm ponds) and ‘Sujalam Sufalam’ in the past, and now ‘Borewell Recharge’\u2014while failing to enact actual legislation. In reality, while 15 states across the country have enacted laws to replenish groundwater, Gujarat is not among them. Why is the Gujarat government failing to take concrete action on groundwater? The BJP government is launching schemes that benefit contractors by facilitating the theft of soil worth crores of rupees. It introduces these new schemes to divert attention from the massive corruption that occurred under the guise of deepening ponds. They launched the ‘Sujalam Sufalam’ scheme, which involved soil theft that pleased everyone involved; now, crores are being spent on ‘Borewell Recharge’\u2014a new method implemented to make people forget the old corruption\u2014yet nothing concrete has been done to enact a law regarding groundwater. The ‘Sujalam Sufalam’ scheme was launched in the state in 2018. The BJP government claims that 74,509 projects completed over the last five years have increased water storage capacity by 86,196 lakh cubic feet; it must now explain what happened to the soil\u2014worth crores of rupees\u2014that was excavated during these massive operations.<\/p>\n
* Not a single pilgrimage site in Gujarat has benefited from the schemes of the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism.<\/p>\n
* The 348 pilgrimage sites falling under the Gujarat Pavitra Tirth Board have been deprived of grants worth crores of rupees intended for cultural programs.<\/p>\n
* Pilgrimage sites in more than 20 states across the country have failed to receive the benefits of this scheme. Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated at a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan today that the BJP central government\u2014which never misses an opportunity to play politics in the name of religion\u2014has revealed its true colors in a reply given in the Rajya Sabha. While the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism is providing special financial assistance worth crores of rupees for cultural development at the country’s sacred temples, not a single rupee has been allocated to Gujarat’s pilgrimage sites. In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that over the past five years, only 12 temples across six states have benefited from this initiative. Not a single one of the 348 pilgrimage sites in Gujarat, which fall under the Gujarat Pilgrimage Board, has received assistance under this scheme. Despite the presence of major pilgrimage sites like Somnath and Dwarka, as well as *Shakti Peeths* like Ambaji and Pavagadh, the state has been excluded from this support. The Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism has disbursed \u20b99,23,07,649 to 12 temples under the “Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities” scheme. While temples in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, and Haryana have benefited, pilgrimage sites in more than 20 other states have received no assistance. This scheme offers the potential for local employment\u2014both indoors and outdoors\u2014for folk artists at pilgrimage sites on a daily basis and during festivals; yet, the people of Gujarat have been deprived of this benefit. While 12 temples elsewhere have received financial aid ranging from \u20b954 lakh to \u20b990 lakh, temples in Gujarat have not received a single rupee. The BJP government engages in politics and vote-seeking in the name of religion, but fails completely when it comes to actual work for pilgrimage sites. The state can issue notices to over 1,500 temples citing various pressures, yet it cannot secure the benefits of central government schemes for Gujarat’s temples and religious sites. 31-07-2024<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Cyber \u200b\u200battack on Gujarat’s cooperative banks<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Transactions worth over \u20b95,000 crore halted<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The Gujarat government must assure depositors that their money is safe and restore normalcy as soon as possible: Hemang Raval<\/p>\n
Hemang Raval, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated in a press release that all digital transactions involving the Gujarat State Cooperative Bank and its affiliated 13 district banks and 150 urban banks have been halted for the past three days. While bank officials have not yet made a formal disclosure, digital transactions\u2014such as NEFT, RTGS, UPI, PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm\u2014for account holders, including farmers, students, traders, women, and daily-wage laborers, have been suspended for the last 72 hours. According to sources, hackers have launched a major cyber attack.<\/p>\n
This matter is highlighted here.<\/p>\n
It is noteworthy that the aforementioned banks had procured software systems and servers for cybersecurity at three times the standard cost. Questions have arisen regarding whether the software company’s sub-contractors are linked to the families of key bank officials. Authorities must clarify this situation and penalize those responsible to maintain customer trust.<\/p>\n
When customers complain to the banks about this issue, they receive no satisfactory response. Given the extreme seriousness of the matter, it has become imperative for the Finance Department of the Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India to take action.<\/p>\n
1.10.2023 *Despite the BJP being in power at the Centre, why is there a shortage of funds in Gujarat\u2014is it like serving one’s mother during the summer heat?*: ParliamentData regarding the Swachh Bharat Mission presented in Parliament has exposed the reality: out of \u20b92,753.05 crore allocated for urban areas under the mission, only \u20b925.31 crore\u2014less than one percent\u2014was spent; not a single rupee was spent on the cleanliness drive during the years 2019, 2021, and 2022. The BJP government has failed to provide facilities and safety to the ‘pioneers of cleanliness’\u2014the sanitation workers\u2014even today; this is the true face of the BJP, which set out to boost its political image in the name of Mahatma Gandhi and ‘cleanliness’. The BJP government has effectively looted the pockets of 135 crore people in the name of the ‘Cleanliness SEZ’. On the birthday of Gandhiji\u2014a devotee of truth\u2014reveal the truth: where did the crores of rupees collected in the name of cleanliness go? Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government\u2014which merely stages photo-ops and performs new gimmicks in the name of the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’\u2014Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Shri Hiren Banker stated that the rural sanitation program was originally launched by the Government of India in 1954 during the First Five-Year Plan. There is a Gujarati saying, “Where cleanliness reigns, disease is absent,” yet under the BJP government, filth and garbage are everywhere. The BJP, having set out to advance its politics in the name of ‘cleanliness’, has failed miserably in this regard. The Swachh Bharat Mission data presented in Parliament has exposed the BJP government. Under the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, out of \u20b91,845.98 crore allocated for rural areas between 2019 and 2021, \u20b9598.8 crore remained unutilized; in just two years, \u20b9679 crore went unused. Furthermore, under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, out of a total of \u20b92,753.05 crore allocated for urban areas between 2019 and 2023, only \u20b995.46 crore was actually released. Not a single rupee was spent on cleanliness drives during the years 2019, 2021, and 2022. While it is true that urban areas require greater sanitation efforts than rural areas due to population density, less than one percent\u2014specifically \u20b925.31 crore\u2014of the \u20b92,753.05 crore allocated to urban areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission was actually spent. Between 2019 and 2023, a significant portion of the funds allocated for the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ remained unspent. This highlights the stark contrast between the words and actions of the BJP government, which sought to boost its political image in the name of ‘cleanliness.’ On Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, they merely stage photo-ops with new gimmicks. Cleanliness is a lifestyle\u2014a continuous process\u2014and a single day is not enough; yet, the BJP government has failed to provide adequate facilities and safety to the sanitation workers\u2014the ‘pioneers of cleanliness’\u2014who have dedicated their lives to this cause. The plight of sanitation workers is dire; over the last three decades, the state has ranked second in the number of deaths among sanitation workers while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Inhumane and degrading practices\u2014such as cleaning sewers and septic tanks or manual scavenging\u2014persist in various parts of Mahatma Gandhi’s Gujarat. Filth and accumulated waste are visible everywhere in the state. While cities and villages remain unclean, the government’s ‘coffers’ have been emptied. Sanitation workers are not hired on a permanent basis and are not paid fair wages. Despite the BJP being in power at the Centre, why is there a lack of funds in Gujarat\u2014a state that should be nurtured with the care a mother shows during the monsoon season? On the birth anniversary of Gandhiji\u2014an apostle of truth\u2014the BJP government, which has effectively picked the pockets of 1.35 billion people in the name of the cleanliness drive, must reveal the truth: where did the crores of rupees collected for sanitation go? Despite the BJP government’s claims of allocating vast sums, why have crores of rupees meant for the Swachh Bharat Mission remained unutilized? The Congress party demands an investigation into the procurement of modern equipment and materials as well as the irregularities within the cleanliness mission; instead of spending on massive advertisements, sanitation workers should be regularized and paid fair wages, and the injustice being meted out to Gujarat regarding the allocation of funds for the Swachh Bharat Mission must be stopped. Funds allocated under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (Rural) in Gujarat state (in \u20b9 crore): Year | Allocated Amount | Opening Balance | Total Funds | Expenditure | Unspent Funds | 2019 | 164.45 | 454.31 | 618.76 | 698.96 | – | 2020 | 499.20 | 192.23 | 691.43 | 341.69 | 349.74 | 2021 | 342.73 | 202.06 | 544.79 | 215.53 | 329.26 | Total | 1854.98 | 1256.18 | – | – | 679. Funds allocated under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (Urban) in Gujarat state (in \u20b9 crore): Year | Swachh Bharat Mission Allocation | Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 Allocation | Funds Released | Expenditure | Unspent Funds | 2019-20 | 834.15 | 1918.90 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2020-21 | 25.31 | 25.31 | 0.00 | – | – | 2021-22 | 70.15 | 0.00 | 70.15 | – | – | 2022-23 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | – | – | Total Funds: 2753.05 | 95.46 | 25.31 | 70.15. Funds allocated and utilized under ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ in the country. Rank | Category | Funds Allocated (\u20b9 Crore) | Funds Utilized (\u20b9 Crore) | Unspent Funds (\u20b9 Crore)
\n1 | Rural (2019-2022) | 56,165.68 | 25,700.92 | 30,464.76
\n2 | Urban (2019-2023) | 46,121.46 | 1,106.24 | 45,015.22
\nTotal | | 1,02,287.14 | 26,807.16 | 75,479.98<\/p>\n
Hiren Banker, Spokesperson, Gujarat Congress | 9723550355 | 16\/7\/2023<\/p>\n
* Gujarat ranks second in the country in terms of the number of registered factories causing pollution.
\n* According to information provided in the Lok Sabha, 4,605 \u200b\u200bfactories in Gujarat do not comply with government environmental regulations.
\n* Who is responsible for the severe pollution\u2014affecting water, air, and land\u2014occurring in Gujarat?
\n* The Gujarat government has taken legal action against only 4 factories; it has not yet decided regarding 965 factories……what action needs to be taken against them. * Several rivers in Gujarat, such as the Sabarmati and the Bhadar, are severely affected by pollution. Pollution can cause serious illnesses among the people.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan today, Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia stated that the Gujarat state government has failed to curb pollution. In response to a question asked in the Lok Sabha, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav provided details regarding polluting factories. Out of 33,486 registered factories in Gujarat, 4,605 \u200b\u200bdo not comply with government environmental standards. Gujarat ranks second in the country in terms of the number of polluting factories. Nationwide, 28,166 registered factories fail to adhere to environmental norms. Legal action has been taken against four factories in Gujarat, and closure orders have been issued for 313. Have these polluting factories actually shut down? Show-cause notices have been issued to 3,323 factories. So far, no decision has been reached regarding the action to be taken against 965 of these factories. Will these notices actually yield any results? Is there an attempt to shield these 965 factories under the guise of “action under process”? Are all these factories compromising the health of the people of Gujarat? Pollution has a severe impact on public health.
\nRivers like the Sabarmati and Bhadar in Gujarat are among the most polluted in the country. The High Court has frequently criticized this pollution. Legal action must be taken against every polluting factory. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board should set a precedent by taking strict action. We demand that the government immediately decide on the polluting units against which no action has yet been taken. It is the collective responsibility of us all to protect Gujarat’s water, air, forests, and land. The government’s apathy towards the environment is clearly evident from the details presented in the Lok Sabha. The question arises: why is the government keeping a close watch on pollution? For instance, what is preventing the government’s pollution board from taking legal action? Is there any collusion between the Pollution Control Board and the polluting units?
\nFactories registered in Gujarat
\n33,486 factories
\nFactories failing to comply with government environmental standards
\n4,605 \u200b\u200bfactories
\nShow-cause notices issued
\n3,323 factories
\nClosure orders issued
\n313 factories
\nLegal action taken
\n4 factories
\nAction pending\/under process
\n965 factories
\nCyclone trends along India’s coast are shifting; the Arabian Sea is emerging as a hotspot for storms.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The frequency of storms in the Arabian Sea has increased by 52% over the last two decades.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Between 1975 and 2000, there were 7 major cyclones, whereas from 2001 to 2023, more than 20 cyclones and depressions have been recorded; rising sea surface temperatures\u2014increasing by an average of 10.1 degrees Celsius annually\u2014are driving this increase in cyclones.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 The government needs to take concrete steps in this regard by consulting with meteorologists, marine experts, and environmentalists.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, a spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee stated that Cyclone Biparjoy is approaching the Gujarat coast, noting that the Arabian Sea has increasingly become a hotspot for cyclones in recent times. Coastal weather trends around India are changing; historically, cyclones were more frequently observed in the Bay of Bengal, as the waters there used to be warmer than those of the Arabian Sea. Research indicates that over the past two decades, cyclone frequency has risen by 52%, duration by 80%, and intensity by 20\u201340%, even though the number of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal has actually decreased by 8%.<\/p>\n
While there were seven major cyclonic storms between 1975 and 2000, the period from 2021 to 2023 witnessed more than 20 cyclones and depressions. Experts attribute this rise in cyclones to increasing sea surface temperatures; the average sea surface temperature is rising by 10.1 millidegrees annually. The increasing frequency of cyclones\u2014which now appear to be an annual occurrence\u2014is a cause for concern. Notable cyclones include ‘Nilofar’ (2014), ‘Chapala’ and ‘Megh’ (2015), ‘Vayu’ and ‘Fani’ (2019), ‘Nisarga’ (2020), ‘Tauktae’ (2021), and ‘Biparjoy’ (2023). A rise of one to two degrees in sea surface temperature increases cyclone frequency. The Arabian Sea witnessed five cyclones in 2019 and two in 2020. Fourteen districts in Gujarat are highly vulnerable to cyclones. Going forward, meteorologists, oceanographers, environmentalists, and nature enthusiasts\u2014along with the government and environmental departments\u2014must address this issue with concern.<\/p>\n
Dialogue is essential, and concrete steps must be taken. Protecting the environment from global warming is a collective responsibility that we all must acknowledge. If we continue to harm the environment, nature will not spare us, and the consequences could be severe. We all must be concerned about improving and protecting every aspect of the environment.<\/p>\n
Major Cyclonic Activity (1975\u20132000)<\/p>\n
Sequence<\/p>\n
Landfall Date<\/p>\n
Landfall Location and Affected Area<\/p>\n
1.<\/p>\n
22 October 1975<\/p>\n
Porbandar<\/p>\n
2.<\/p>\n
3 June 1976<\/p>\n
Saurashtra<\/p>\n
3.<\/p>\n
8 November 1982<\/p>\n
Veraval<\/p>\n
4.<\/p>\n
1 November 1989<\/p>\n
Veraval and Porbandar<\/p>\n
5.<\/p>\n
18 June 1992<\/p>\n
Diu<\/p>\n
6.<\/p>\n
9 June 1998<\/p>\n
Porbandar<\/p>\n
7.<\/p>\n
20 May 1999<\/p>\n
KutchMajor Cyclonic Activity (2001\u20132019)<\/p>\n
Year<\/p>\n
Period of Activity<\/p>\n
Classification<\/p>\n
Affected Area<\/p>\n
2001<\/p>\n
21\u201329 May<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm<\/p>\n
Kandla, Kosamba, Jamnagar, Valsad<\/p>\n
7\u201313 October<\/p>\n
Cyclone<\/p>\n
South Gujarat<\/p>\n
2004<\/p>\n
30 September \u2013 10 October<\/p>\n
Severe Cyclone<\/p>\n
Porbandar<\/p>\n
2005<\/p>\n
21\u201322 June<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
West Gujarat<\/p>\n
14\u201316 September<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
West Gujarat<\/p>\n
2006<\/p>\n
21\u201324 September<\/p>\n
Severe Cyclone<\/p>\n
Porbandar, Rajkot<\/p>\n
2008<\/p>\n
23\u201324 June<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
Diu<\/p>\n
2010<\/p>\n
30 May \u2013 7 June<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclone<\/p>\n
Rajkot, Kutch, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Mehsana<\/p>\n
2011<\/p>\n
11\u201312 June<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
Gir Somnath, Veraval, Kodinar, Talala, Upleta<\/p>\n
2014<\/p>\n
10\u201314 June<\/p>\n
Cyclone<\/p>\n
South Gujarat<\/p>\n
25\u201331 October<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm<\/p>\n
Kutch, Saurashtra<\/p>\n
2015<\/p>\n
22\u201324 June<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
Gir Somnath, Amreli, Rajkot<\/p>\n
2016<\/p>\n
27\u201329 June<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
West Gujarat<\/p>\n
2017<\/p>\n
29 November \u2013 6 December<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm<\/p>\n
Surat, Dahanu<\/p>\n
2019<\/p>\n
10\u201317 June<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm<\/p>\n
Saurashtra, Kutch, Diu<\/p>\n
30 September \u2013 1 October<\/p>\n
Depression<\/p>\n
Kandla (Kutch)<\/p>\n
22\u201325 December<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm<\/p>\n
South Gujarat<\/p>\n
30 October \u2013 7 November<\/p>\n
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm<\/p>\n
Diu<\/p>\n
Year<\/p>\n
Name of Cyclone<\/p>\n
Most Vulnerable to Cyclones Districts<\/p>\n
2004<\/p>\n
Onil<\/p>\n
Junagadh<\/p>\n
Surat<\/p>\n
2006<\/p>\n
Mukda<\/p>\n
Ahmedabad<\/p>\n
Bharuch<\/p>\n
2010<\/p>\n
Phet<\/p>\n
Kutch<\/p>\n
Valsad<\/p>\n
2014<\/p>\n
Nilofar<\/p>\n
Bhavnagar<\/p>\n
Rajkot<\/p>\n
2015<\/p>\n
Chapala and Megh<\/p>\n
Jamnagar<\/p>\n
Porbandar<\/p>\n
2017<\/p>\n
Ockhi<\/p>\n
Anand<\/p>\n
Morbi<\/p>\n
2018<\/p>\n
Luban<\/p>\n
Navsari<\/p>\n
Gir Somnath<\/p>\n
2019<\/p>\n
Vayu and Fani<\/p>\n
2020<\/p>\n
Nisarga<\/p>\n
2021<\/p>\n
Tauktae<\/p>\n
2023<\/p>\n
Biparjoy<\/p>\n
4\/6\/2023<\/p>\n
* Best wishes for World Environment Day (June 5).
\n* According to Global Forest Watch, Gujarat has lost 101 hectares of tree cover over the last 20 years.
\n* The Narmada and Dang districts experienced the highest loss of tree cover.
\n* Fire incidents accounted for the loss of 9 hectares of tree cover, while other causes resulted in the loss of 92 hectares.
\n* Between May 23, 2023, and May 30, 2023, 489 VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) fire alerts were recorded in Gujarat.
\n* A total of 15,968 fire alerts were received between June 1, 2020, and May 29, 2023.
\n* In 2022, 8,000 hectares of land were affected by fire, compared to 76,000 hectares in 2021.
\n* Over the past four weeks, the highest number of fire alerts have been reported in Jamnagar, Gir Somnath, Porbandar, and Morbi. On World Environment Day (June 5), along with extending best wishes to everyone, we must pledge to protect the environment. According to the organization Global Forest Watch, Gujarat lost 101 hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2021; 9 hectares were lost to fires, and 92 hectares were lost due to other causes. Global Forest Watch monitors the world’s forests using Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) technology. The organization’s survey indicates that Narmada and Dang districts have experienced the greatest loss of tree cover. Between June 1, 2020, and May 29, 2023, Gujarat recorded 15,968 fire alerts\u2014meaning that many fire incidents occurred, damaging the tree cover. In the seven-day period from May 23 to May 29, 2023, 489 fire alert incidents were reported. Fire affected 8,000 hectares of land in 2022, compared to 76,000 hectares in 2021. According to the survey, the highest number of fire alerts in the last four weeks came from Jamnagar, Gir Somnath, Porbandar, and Morbi. The shrinking tree cover is a cause for concern. Protecting the environment is a collective responsibility. Given the high number of fire incidents, the government must take concrete steps and investigate the causes of these fires. Let us all take the initiative to protect the environment and contribute by planting as many trees as possible.<\/p>\n
1-6-2023<\/p>\n
\u2022 Is studying for B.Com, B.A., and BBA degrees in Gujarat more expensive than medical education?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Private universities are engaging in blatant profiteering by charging students fees exceeding ten lakh rupees. \u2022 Has the government authorized private universities to exploit students and parents in this manner? \u2022 A strong demand for the government to immediately constitute a fee regulation committee under the supervision of a retired judge.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fees of up to \u20b94.2 lakh per year are being charged for various courses, whereas the annual fee for the same courses in government colleges established during the Congress regime is merely \u20b92,190.<\/p>\n
\u2022 While universities in Gujarat may not rank among the top institutions in terms of educational quality, they are obsessed with joining the “million-rupee fee club” to fleece students.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan today, Parthivrajsinh Kathvadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, stated that the commercialization and exploitation within the education sector have become major issues in Gujarat.<\/p>\n
Education fees are skyrocketing due to the craze for privatization. By granting permission to 108 private universities in the state, an environment has been created that effectively acts as a license to exploit students. These private universities are charging fees exceeding \u20b910 lakh per student for various courses. Even though Gujarat’s universities do not feature in the league of top educational institutions, there is a frantic drive to join the “million-rupee fee club” by fleecing students and parents. The fees for B.Com, B.A., and B.B.A. courses in Gujarat’s private universities are even higher than medical course fees. If we look at some of the 108 universities in Gujarat…If one compares these fees with those of government colleges, a stark difference becomes apparent. In the very same building at Ahmedabad University where an annual fee of \u20b94.2 lakh is charged for the B.Com program in the morning, a fee of approximately \u20b92,500 is charged for Gujarat University courses held on the same campus in the afternoon. Nirma University, which acquired land for educational purposes at a nominal rate, charges students \u20b93.42 lakh annually for B.Com. Karnavati University charges \u20b92 lakh annually for the B.A. program. While BJP leaders promote Pandit Deendayal\u2019s philosophy of *Antyodaya* (upliftment of the last person), the Pandit Deendayal Energy University\u2014named after him\u2014charges \u20b91.35 lakh per semester for courses like B.Com and B.A. In contrast, government and grant-in-aid colleges established during the Congress era still charge annual fees ranging from \u20b92,000 to \u20b92,500; furthermore, tuition fees for female students have been waived. Is it right for students to be openly fleeced in this manner while the government remains silent? The Gujarat government must immediately constitute a fee regulation committee headed by a retired judge to fix appropriate fee structures. It is also essential to regulate the practice of levying private fees under various separate heads. Will the government rein in these private universities that have morphed into an “education mafia”? Why is the government afraid of the officials running these private universities that charge exorbitant fees? Protecting the people of Gujarat from the education mafia ought to be the government’s responsibility, yet it appears the government has capitulated to them. Since prominent industrialists are behind these private universities, the government turns a blind eye while students and parents are exploited.<\/p>\n
Private Universities: B.Com, B.A., B.B.A. Ahmedabad University
\n(One Million Fee Club) 16,80,000 (four years) 16,80,000 (four years) 16,80,000 (four years)
\nPandit Deendayal Energy University
\n(One Million Fee Club) 10,80,000 (four years) 10,80,000 (four years) 10,80,000 (four years)
\nNirma University
\n(One Million Fee Club) 13,68,000 (four years) – 19,65,000 (five-year integrated)
\nKarnavati University – 8,25,000 (four years) 8,25,000 (four years)
\nIndus University 2,00,000 (four years) – 2,55,000 (three years)
\nNote: Only five out of 108 universities have been cited as examples; the other 103 are similarly fleecing the public by charging exorbitant fees.<\/p>\n
Government University B.Com B.A. B.B.A.
\nGujarat University (Government & Grant-in-aid) Boys: 10,040
\nGirls: 5,240
\n(four years) Boys: 8,760
\nGirls: 6,960
\n(four years) –
\nGujarat University (Self-financed) 60,000 (four years) 84,000 (four years) 1,04,000 (four years)
\nBhavnagar University 9,200 (Grant-in-aid – four years)
\n17,200 (HPP) 17,200 (Grant-in-aid – four years)
\n80,000 (Self-financed) 80,000 (four years)<\/p>\n
M.S. University: Boys – 30,880; Girls – 26,480
\n(Four years): Boys – 31,280; Girls – 27,280
\n(Four years): 1,12,000; 2,32,000; 3,92,000
\n(Four years, based on cut-off)
\nSaurashtra University: 8,600 (Grant-in-aid); 60,000 (Self-finance)
\n(Four years): 8,600 (Grant-in-aid); 80,000 (Self-finance)
\nNorth Gujarat University: 12,000 (Government); 20,000 (Grant-in-aid); 40,000 (Self-finance)
\n(Four years): 8,000 (Government); 16,000 (Grant-in-aid); 36,000 (Self-finance)
\n(Four years): Up to 80,000; 1,20,000<\/p>\n
Note: Apart from these, college and university fees are also charged under various other heads.<\/p>\n
23\/5\/2023
\n* Whose development is envisaged in the Central Government’s “Van Dhan Vikas Yojana”?<\/p>\n
* Under this scheme, 34,800 tribals in Gujarat receive only Rs. 6.80 per day.<\/p>\n
* Rs. 3.48 crore was collected from poor tribals in Gujarat as a contribution towards the “Van Dhan Vikas Yojana”.<\/p>\n
* Rs. 1,000 was collected from each tribal as a contribution.<\/p>\n
* TRIFED procures 86 types of minor forest produce and subsequently sells them to multinational companies.<\/p>\n
* Multinational companies earn huge profits by selling these forest products. * The state of Gujarat receives a grant of \u20b917.40 crore under the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana; tribal people in the state earned \u20b9874.56 lakh from forest produce over the year.<\/p>\n
* Tribal people are being exploited through the payment of meager prices.
\n* Where were the crores of rupees allocated for the Van Dhan Yojana utilized?<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan today, Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia, spokesperson for the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, condemned the central government for the injustice meted out to tribal people under the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana. There are 116 clusters under the Van Dhan Yojana in Gujarat, involving approximately 34,800 tribal individuals. Tribal men and women collect forest produce\u2014such as honey, Mahuda flowers, tamarind, gum, Chironji, and Guggul\u2014and sell it to TRIFED, which in turn sells these secondary forest products to multinational companies. These multinational companies earn huge profits by branding the forest produce, whereas the poor tribal people of Gujarat are paid very low prices. According to Rajya Sabha data, forest produce worth \u20b9874.45 lakh was procured from the tribal people of Gujarat. If this amount is distributed among all the tribal participants, each individual receives \u20b92,512 annually, which works out to just \u20b96.80 per day. Since the government provides \u20b917.40 crore under this scheme, the question arises: where do these crores of rupees go?<\/p>\n
The government, which claims to be a well-wisher of tribal communities, has collected \u20b93.48 crore from poor tribal people in the name of contribution to this scheme. A sum of \u20b91,000 was collected from each poor tribal individual for participation in the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana. If poor tribal people were to rely on their own community ties to sustain their……are being undertaken, how significant is a sum of one thousand rupees for poor tribals? Whose development and whose wealth does the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana actually serve? Even if the government’s grant of \u20b917.40 crore were transferred directly to the tribals’ accounts, the amount per person would come to \u20b95,000; so, where do the crores of rupees in this scheme actually go? Under the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana, there are 116 clusters in Gujarat, each comprising 300 tribals, with a grant of \u20b915 lakh allocated to each cluster. Are poor tribals truly benefiting at the cost of these crores? Multinational companies are reaping huge profits from the hard work of poor tribals. The question arises: is it the government or private companies that are actually benefiting the tribals through this scheme?<\/p>\n
A \u20b920,000 crore GSPC scam linked to EVMs?<\/p>\n
The election results in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab earlier this year came as a shock to the nation. The Gujarat elections could deliver yet another shock. The primary concern is whether EVMs have been tampered with\u2014a thought that is unsettling in itself. However, sensational details have emerged regarding how funds from the \u20b920,000 crore Gujarat Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) scam reached the American company that manufactures the chips used in EVMs. Consequently, people have begun to harbor suspicions about EVMs as well. It is even possible that losing the Gujarat election might not matter if it ensures a victory in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP defends EVM vulnerabilities more vigorously than the Election Commission itself does; just two days ago, Narendra Modi defended the use of EVMs in the Gujarat elections.<\/p>\n
An audit of the Gujarat government’s accounts by the CAG revealed that a state-owned company incurred a loss of \u20b920,000 crore. Several other scams involving GSPC have also come to light. The biggest beneficiary of the Gujarat gas scam was a Barbados\/Mauritius-based company called “Geo Global Resources.” Although this was exposed seven years ago, no investigation was ever conducted. Where did these crores of rupees go?<\/p>\n
Over the past decade, every political party\u2014except the BJP\u2014has raised doubts about EVMs. It is not just political parties; individuals working in the social sector have also expressed skepticism. The BJP defends the reliability of EVMs far more vigorously than the Election Commission itself does. On December 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also defended EVMs in Ahmedabad; while targeting Rahul Gandhi on this issue, he claimed that if the Congress loses, they would blame the EVMs. This statement by the Prime Minister is extremely significant, as it serves as both a prediction and a preemptive defense\u2014a move made by the Prime Minister before the actual event unfolds.<\/p>\n
There is no apparent reason for the Congress to lose in Gujarat. However, if the BJP wins, there is certainly cause to suspect some form of EVM-related fraud, given that all indicators point toward a BJP defeat. *Janta Reporter* investigated the owners of both ‘Geo-Global Resources’ and the US-based company that manufactures EVM microchips in connection with EVM-related controversies. The investigation revealed that ‘Microchip Inc.’ (USA)\u2014which manufactures microchips for India’s EVMs\u2014benefited from the GSPC scam through its association with Geo-Global Resources. Exploration activities in the KG Basin by the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) resulted in a loss of \u20b920,000 crore; despite such a massive loss, Gujarat failed to produce any crude oil itself. Geo-Global Resources (formerly known as the social media and publishing company Suite101.com) was a private company registered in Barbados; when it was appointed as a private exploration partner without any transparent bidding process, it was also offered a 10% stake in GSPC.<\/p>\n
Geo-Global Resources was awarded the contract for oil well operations without possessing any prior experience or certification, and without any verification of its track record. Meanwhile, India’s own world-renowned company, ONGC, was overlooked despite possessing all the necessary experience and qualifications. The Congress has alleged that Geo-Global Resources is a fraudulent company to which the Modi government in Gujarat awarded a multi-million dollar contract for an oil well and oil exploration. This contract was awarded secretly, with everything kept under wraps; established processes and principles were not followed. GSPC invested \u20b91,734.60 crore on behalf of Geo-Global Resources. Now, ONGC is being made to bear the burden of a merger with GSPC. Incidentally, the BJP government at the Centre recently appointed a director to ONGC. Prior to this, Parindu Bhagat\u2014an influential BJP leader from Gujarat and the party’s treasurer\u2014had also been appointed to ONGC, at a time when Pandian was the Chairman of GSPC.<\/p>\n
We investigated the background of Geo-Global Resources India. Geo-Global Resources (India) is registered in Barbados, while its parent company, Geo-Global Resources Inc., is based in Calgary, Canada.<\/p>\n
Its headquarters are in India. A subsidiary of Geo-Global Resources Inc. is Key Capital Corp, an American financial group. Key Corp and Microchip Inc. (USA) manufacture the microchips used in India’s EVMs.<\/p>\n
Microchip Inc. (USA) is one of the manufacturers of EVM microcontrollers. The company is led by Steve Sanghi, an NRI originally from Haryana, and its President and CEO is Ganesh Moorthy, who is also Indian. Microchip Inc. is the sole provider of microchips used in India’s EVMs. However, the election…No entity\u2014including the Commission, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), or Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)\u2014can decode the software program embedded in the EVM’s microchip.<\/p>\n
Both companies share the same owners. This is highly dangerous. It implies that this foreign entity could potentially determine which party wins and which loses; the institutional ownership of Capital Corp and the key financing are linked to the ownership of ‘Microchip Inc.’, which is managed by two NRIs. Consequently, the beneficiaries of the GSPC scam are the owners of the company manufacturing the EVM chips. This poses a significant risk to elections in India and Gujarat. Even if elections are held, the chip could determine who comes to power\u2014a scenario that could directly benefit the BJP.<\/p>\n
An EVM consists of two parts: the control unit and the ballot unit. The control unit functions as a computer with its CPU housed within a microchip controller (MCU), while the ballot unit acts as a keyboard. The MCU is the brain of the EVM; it dictates all operations through its programmed instructions, known as machine code. For security reasons, the EVM source code cannot be read, copied, or altered.<\/p>\n
The Election Commission (EC) developed its software program with the assistance of scientists from BEL and ECIL, ensuring the code remains unbreakable. The EVM source code is a closely guarded secret\u2014so much so that even the Election Commission does not possess it. While the code’s importance is evident, the EVM could be tampered with if scientists or employees from BEL and ECIL were to breach security protocols. Even if one assumes these scientists cannot be bought with bribes worth billions of rupees, one cannot rule out the possibility that the code has been compromised. If MLAs in Gujarat can be purchased for \u20b914 crore, why couldn’t the code be obtained? The Election Commission procured MCUs (microcontroller units) from foreign distributors such as Renesas (Japan) and Microchip Inc. (USA). These purchases were made because there is no company within the state possessing the technology to manufacture chips and MCUs. This implies that the coding for the chips was outsourced to foreign entities.<\/p>\n
The details released by the Election Commission contain misleading and deceptively reassuring information. Computer program code\u2014written in binary (two-digit) format\u2014can be deciphered, read, and even stolen. Foreign manufacturing companies could alter the programming to benefit a specific political party. Yet, the Election Commission of India itself lacks the capability to verify whether its original program remains intact or has been tampered with.<\/p>\n
The beneficiaries of the Gujarat gas-oil scam and the microchip manufacturing companies\u2014whose top leadership includes individuals named Sanghi and Murthy\u2014share the same owners. Does this mean that billions of rupees from the GSPC scam are being funneled to the EVM chip manufacturing company to help win elections?<\/p>\n
14-3-2026<\/p>\n
\u00b7 India’s foreign policy has become akin to “Narendra Surrender”: Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil launches a scathing attack on the PM in the Rajya Sabha.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Does Trump make decisions by calling him “Narendra Surrender”? Does India blindly believe everything Trump says?<\/p>\n
\u00b7 A demand to send a clear message to the US that India will make its own decisions.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Modi’s foreign policy targeted by citing the example of Indira Gandhi.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP from Gujarat, Shaktisinh Gohil, launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that India’s foreign policy has effectively become “Narendra Surrender.” He remarked that it appears India is making decisions based on the dictates of former US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Shaktisinh Gohil expressed shock and dismay at seeing the Prime Minister appear so weak and willing to bow to Trump’s orders; he suggested that if Trump were to ask India to halt a war, New Delhi would comply. Trump decides where oil should be purchased from, and India complies. Gohil remarked that Trump simply says, “Narendra, surrender,” and the Indian government immediately yields to him.<\/p>\n
Gohil further stated that while the BJP repeatedly claims India’s self-respect and global stature have risen, this “Narendra Surrender” style of governance actually damages the nation’s pride. It is deeply unfortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi lacks the courage to stand up to Trump. When Trump says “stop the war,” we stop it; when he says “do not buy oil from Russia,” we agree. I do not know if this is due to the Epstein files or some other reason, but Modi-ji operates on the principle of “Narendra Surrender.” He added, “Modi-ji, we stand with you. Do not be afraid. Muster the courage to tell Trump that he is lying.” Some members in the Rajya Sabha applauded this statement.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Gohil noted that India is the world’s largest democracy and a major power in global politics. Yet, when Donald Trump publicly claims to have issued instructions to India regarding war or strategic decisions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi fails to offer an immediate, firm rebuttal. Gohil remarked that this approach towards Washington is now being dubbed the “Narendra Surrender” policy, as Modi appears unwilling to respond when Trump makes bold public claims regarding India’s decisions.<\/p>\n
He questioned why the US should determine whether or not India can purchase oil from Russia. The government says……that India’s pride and international stature have risen; however, if that were truly the case, would the US have sent our citizens back in handcuffs?<\/p>\n
Recalling history, Gohil noted that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had explicitly told a US President that America had no right to decide what kind of rice India should consume. She had made it clear that such decisions would be taken by India and its people, not by America.<\/p>\n
Gohil alleged that we now have a Prime Minister who appears ready to surrender India’s interests to America. He remarked that Trump simply says, “Narendra, surrender,” and India immediately complies.<\/p>\n
He stated that India’s foreign policy has always been rooted in strategic independence. This means that decisions regarding diplomacy, defense, and energy procurement are made by New Delhi itself. This principle was cultivated by various leaders over the years, who consistently emphasized that while India would maintain relations with every global power, it would not bow down to anyone.<\/p>\n
Gohil argued that if the government is confident, it should provide a clear public response to such claims. However, situations resembling “Narendra Surrender” have created a perception that the US can publicly comment on India’s decisions without facing any rebuttal.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, Gohil stated that while diplomacy allows for courtesy, the nation’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. When a foreign leader claims the authority to make decisions for India, a clear message must go out from New Delhi that only India makes decisions for itself. (This is a Google translation from Gujarati; please refer to the original Gujarati report for details on the controversy.)<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
…speaks of [providing employment], yet data from the past few years reveals that, on average, only 42 to 46 days of work were actually provided. In other words, the government has failed to deliver even the promised 100 days of employment. He clarified that the Congress party demands the restoration of MGNREGA to its original […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53604,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,1,54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scam","category-politics","category-gujarat"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/allgujaratnews.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/%E0%AA%9A%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%A1%E0%AA%BE33.jpeg?fit=730%2C587&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paUKPQ-e6D","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allgujaratnews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}