AHMEDABAD: Unseasonal rains have wreaked havoc across several districts of Gujarat, devastating standing crops and leaving thousands of farmers in distress. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel swiftly mobilised his cabinet, dispatching ministers to the ground for direct assessment. With over 10,00,000 hectares of farmland reportedly affected, the state government has now approved a week-long survey to evaluate losses and ensure compensation reaches the farmers swiftly. Unseasonal rains lashing Gujarat for the past several days have left a trail of devastation across the states farmlands. Crops in key agricultural belts, including Tapi, Navsari, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Surat, have suffered extensive damage, shaking the backbone of the farming community. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel immediately directed his ministers to fan out across the affected areas and assess the damage first-hand. Acting on the CMs orders, senior ministers interacted with farmers and gathered on-ground details of crop destruction and their hardships. At todays cabinet meeting, the government officially approved a statewide survey to measure the damage. Gram sevaks have been tasked with carrying out the assessment within a week, with a detailed report to be submitted to the administration for prompt relief measures. Briefing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Government Spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Jitu Vaghani emphasised the governments commitment to farmers, saying, Over the past few days, we have all witnessed the impact of unseasonal rains and the hardships faced by our farmers. The Chief Minister and the entire cabinet stand firmly with the farming community during this difficult time. He revealed that over 10,00,000 hectares of farmland have already been reported damaged, with major losses seen in soybean, cotton, sugarcane, and groundnut crops. A five-member ministerial committee, formed by CM Patel, has already submitted its detailed ground report to the cabinet, triggering immediate follow-up actions. Earlier, taking stock of the situation on the ground, Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani chaired a review meeting with officials in Shihor (Bhavnagar district) and later visited Kajavdar village, where he met distressed farmers. He assured that CM Patel is personally monitoring the developments and that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure farmers get adequate help without delay. On October 20, the Gujarat government announced a Rs 947 crore agricultural relief package for farmers hit by the AugustSeptember rains across 18 talukas in five districts. The package includes Rs 563 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) provisions and an additional Rs 384 crore provided directly by the state government to ensure timely financial assistance to affected farmers. With ministers on the move and gram sevaks gearing up for village-level assessments, the Patel government has entered a crucial week of response, one that will decide how quickly relief reaches those whose livelihoods now hang in the balance.
After cabinet overhaul, Gujarat BJP now plans major organizational reshuffle
AHMEDABAD: Gujarats political scene is changing again. After appointing a new BJP state president and reshuffling the state cabinet, the ruling party is now preparing for another big organizational change. The BJP plans to bring in new leaders to key posts and redraw its power structure from the state capital Gandhinagar to the district level a clear sign that the party is getting ready for the next big election. According to party sources, the next major step will be appointing new State General Secretaries one of the most powerful roles in the partys state unit. These appointments are expected within a week. Currently, the Gujarat BJP has four General Secretaries. Among them, Kutch MP Vinod Chavda is likely to keep his position, while the other three posts may go to new faces. The move aims to strengthen the partys organization and prepare for upcoming political challenges. Party insiders say this reshuffle is not just routine. It is part of a larger strategy to tighten control and improve coordination after the recent cabinet changes, in which ten ministers were dropped. The BJP wants to strengthen its structure at the district level to improve governance and maintain political balance. As part of this plan, new in-charge ministers will be appointed for 20 districts. The government now wants each minister to handle only one districtespecially those with important departmentsto improve focus and accountability. Earlier, many ministers managed two districts, which often reduced efficiency. Even Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi may see changes in his responsibilities. He currently oversees both Vadodara and Gandhinagar districts for the BJP, but he may now retain only Gandhinagar, reflecting the leaderships push for more focused roles. The 20 districts expected to get new in-charge ministers include Aravalli, Mahisagar, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Botad, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Panchmahal, Dang, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Patan, Narmada, Chhota Udepur, Tapi, and Valsad. Each new appointment will aim to balance political representation and improve administration, helping the BJP strengthen its control both at the grassroots and state levels. With these changes on the way, the Gujarat BJP is reshaping not just its cabinet but also its political strategy getting ready for the road ahead.
Ease of travel: Civil aviation ministry firms up winter schedule of all airlines
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday announced the winter schedule of all scheduled domestic airlines that will come into effect from October 26. A total of 26,495 flight departures per week across 126 airports in the country have been approved by the ministry. Indigo has been allotted the maximum departures of 15,014, while Air India and Vistara combinedly will be responsible for 4,277 departures. This marks an improvement of 5.85% over the winter schedule of 2024. An official release from the Civil Aviation Ministry said that when compared with the summer schedule, the winter schedule will have 1,000 additional departures. There are 26,495 departures per week which have been finalised to/from 126 airports as per Winter Schedule (WS) S25 compared to 25,610 departures per week from 129 airports in the Summer Schedule 2025. This schedule will be in place till March 28, 2026. The new airports which will make their debut this winter are Amravati, Hissar, Purnia and Rupsi. The airports that have been suspended from operations are those in Aligarh, Moradabad, Chitrakoot, Bhavnagar, Ludhiana, Pakyong and Shravasti. The Winter Schedule 2025 of the scheduled domestic airlines has been finalised after the slot conference meeting held in September. The final slots clearances have been received from respective airport operators, it added. Indigo will have a 6.05% growth over its summer schedule while Spicejet will have a 26.45% increase. Star Air with 538 departures will have a 6.53% growth. Air India will have a dip of 0.77% while Air India Express will go down by 6.04% dip. FlyBig will have the maximum impact with a 67.05% negative growth in departures with just 58 flight departures while Fly91 will have a 59.35% dip. Akasa Air s departures will go down by 5.69%.
AHMEDABAD: The BJP government in Gujarat carried out a cabinet reshuffle on Friday, with state Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister and cricketer Ravindra Jadejas wife, Rivaba Jadeja, inducted as a minister. Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath to 26 ministers, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, as each incoming leader held the Bhagavad Gita in hand, an unmistakable symbol of ideological assertion. The reshuffle blends caste arithmetic, political muscle, and strategic messaging, bringing in 19 new faces while removing several old and Congress-origin ministers. The new cabinet draws heavily on new faces and social balance: seven Patidars, eight OBCs, three Scheduled Castes, four Scheduled Tribes, and three women. The oath-taking ceremony turned into a display of precise political engineering, signalling both continuity and controlled disruption. Of the 26 ministers, only six from the old team were retained, while 10 were dropped and 19 inducted afresh, a clear signal that the BJP is scripting a fresh power map ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. Harsh Sanghavi took the oath first, marking his formal elevation as Deputy Chief Minister, a position held by only five others in Gujarats political history. His rise is more than ceremonial; it cements his place as a key power centre in the Bhupendra Patel government and reflects the BJPs calibrated grooming of its next rung of leadership. Fresh blood, veterans and strategic reshuffle The Chief Minister personally informed the retained ministers, reinforcing their political weight, while BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma communicated with the new entrants. Beneath the smooth transition lies a quiet purge, particularly of original Congress turncoats. Of five such ministers in the previous cabinet, only Kunwarji Bavaliya and Arjun Modhwadia survive. The restBalwantsinh Rajput, Bhikhusinh Parmar, Kunwarji Halpati, and Raghavji Patelhave been removed. This reset carries historical echoes. Gujarat has seen only five Deputy Chief Ministers since its formation: Chiman Patel and Kantilal Ghiya (1972), Keshubhai Patel (1990), Narhari Amin (1994), and Nitin Patel in the Rupani era. Sanghavi now becomes the sixth, underlining the BJPs generational transition at the top. Saurashtra, long a key region in Gujarats caste-political matrix, has also seen a tight pruning. Of the five Saurashtra ministers in 2022, only Kunwarji Bavaliya and Parshottam Solanki retain their berths. Mulu Bera, Raghavji Patel, and Bhanuben Babaria have been cut, making way for Rivaba Jadeja as part of the BJPs womens representation strategy. Rivabas entry is both symbolic and tactical: it blends celebrity pull with electoral arithmetic in Jamnagar, while simultaneously edging out Mulu Bera. Jitu Vaghani, former Gujarat BJP president and Education Minister, has made a comeback after being dropped in 2022. His return strengthens the Bhavnagar belts stake in the new power equation. The reshuffle also carries an organisational imprint, with Kaushik Vekaria, known for his internal party influence in Amreli, gaining prominence. The Sanghavi elevation, coupled with this caste-balanced, politically calibrated cabinet, marks a strategic consolidation by the BJP, merging loyalty, legacy, and fresh optics. The cabinet reshuffle is as much a political statement as an administrative move, as the BJP lays the groundwork for the 2027 elections. Notably, Gujarat can have a maximum of 27 ministers (15 per cent of the 182-member assembly), and the BJP aims to fill more of these positions. The outgoing cabinet comprises 17 ministers, including the chief minister, with eight cabinet ministers and eight ministers of state.
Jyoti Rises Over 2% After Securing 10.91 Crore Order from Nand Infrastructure
Mumbai, October 13 (Udaipur Kiran): Shares of Jyoti Ltd gained over 2% in early trade today after the company announced securing a fresh order worth 10.91 crore (excluding GST) from Nand Infrastructure & Projects, Bhavnagar, for the NWR TharadDhanera Lift Irrigation Project. At Rs. 93.94, the stock was trading up by 2.34%, or Rs. 2.15, ... Read more Jyoti Rises Over 2% After Securing 10.91 Crore Order from Nand Infrastructure
RTI reply exposes audit lapse of over Rs 2 lakh crore in eight Gujarat Municipal Corporations
AHMEDABAD: A massive accountability crisis has exploded in Gujarat as eight major Municipal Corporations have not been audited for several years, leaving a budget worth over Rs 2 lakh crore unaudited and unverified. The revelations, made through an RTI response, expose systemic neglect, violation of audit laws, and a stunning breakdown of financial transparency. Citizens of these cities have effectively been left in the dark about how public money is being spent. Now, Gujarats urban governance is staring at a financial storm. RTI documents have exposed that not a single audit has been completed for several years for eight major Municipal Corporations: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Surat and Vadodara. The data, obtained from the Director of the Local Fund Accounts Office in response to an RTI filed under Section 4(1) of the Act, reveals how thousands of crores of rupees in civic funds have remained unaudited, violating the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963. The backlog means that over Rs 2 lakh crore of municipal expenditure across Gujarats largest cities has never undergone mandatory financial scrutiny. With an annual budget of around 12,000 crore in 202425, the Ahmedabad civic body hasnt completed an audit since 201718, which roughly translates to approximately 50,000 crore in unverified accounts for just one city. Similar patterns are seen in Surat and Vadodara, while other corporations have remained unaudited for four to six years. Experts say that this is not a mere technical lapse, but a deep governance failure. Ignored directives, defied laws This financial vacuum exists despite clear legal obligations and repeated directives. Notably, the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963, under Section 4 mandates annual audits of all local bodies. The 11th Central Finance Commission (200005) had recommended that the audit of Municipal Corporations be done under the guidance of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), with reports submitted to the State Assembly. A Finance Department resolution on May 6, 2005, and later a circular on December 23, 2011, made this legally binding. The CAG had also flagged the non-compliance in August 2009, urging Gujarat to ensure timely audits. In 2011, Section 108A was added to the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, to reinforce the obligation. Yet, the RTI reply confirms that none of these directives have been implemented effectively. Last Audited Year, Municipal Corporation and Pending Years. The failure has also meant that no audit reports have been tabled in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for years, as the audits were never done. The Finance Departments 2011 circular was meant to bring in accountability through CAG-supervised audits of Municipal Corporations. These reports were to be presented before the Assembly, debated, and acted upon. Instead, the process has been derailed for over a decade. Neither the CAG nor the Local Fund Audit Office has enforced strict timelines, and successive governments have allowed this crisis to deepen. RTI applicant raised red flag RTI Activist and Professor Hemant Kumar Shah has slammed the government, alleging a deliberate shielding of irregularities. In a democracy, the audit report for the previous financial year should be presented in the new year, debated by corporators, and acted upon as per rules. If the audit itself is not done for years, transparency collapses, and irregularities get buried, Shah claimed. He further alleged, This is a clear violation of the Gujarat Local Fund Audit Act, 1963. The State Assembly has failed in its duty to ensure annual presentation of audit reports. Transparency is a fundamental principle of democracy. When 2 lakh crore goes unaudited, the publics right to know how their money is used is crushed. Citizens kept in the dark The lack of audits not just weaken financial scrutiny but also denies Gujarats urban citizens of transparency over how civic budgets are spent on critical services like roads, water, housing, and sanitation.Over two crore people live in these eight municipal areas. However, no red flags were raised, no mismanagement was officially recorded. Political and governance questions mount The revelation has triggered serious concerns: Why has the State not enforced its own audit rules for over a decade? How is financial scrutiny being bypassed despite repeated CAG interventions? Who is responsible for this 2 lakh crore transparency vacuum? Legal experts say this is not just an administrative lapse, but a potential violation of constitutional principles governing local self-government. What next? With RTI evidence out in the open, pressure is likely to mount over the State government to immediately initiate pending audits and present reports in the Assembly. Activists and former bureaucrats argue that independent CAG oversight and public disclosure of audit findings are the only way to restore credibility. However, with seven years already lost in some corporations, the process of auditing such massive backlogs will be long, complex and politically sensitive. Whether the State acts decisive or let the lapse unchecked will determine the future of transparency and accountability in Gujarats urban administration. Notably, Hemant Kumar Shah said,If audits are not done, irregularities remain invisible. And when irregularities remain invisible, accountability dies.
Dependence on other nations Indias biggest enemy: PM
Self-reliance only remedy BHAVNAGAR (Gujarat), Sept 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Indias main adversary is its dependence on other nations as he made a strong pitch for aatmanirbharta and called for indigenous production of everything from semiconductor chips to ships. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Speaking at the Samudra se Samruddhi event, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects worth Rs 34,200 crore, Modi said all the problems of India have only one [] The post Dependence on other nations Indias biggest enemy: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Chip to ship, all must be made in India, it's a necessity now: PM Modi in Bhavnagar
PM Modi declares ships as 'infrastructure', unveils Rs 34,200 crore maritime projects in Gujarat
AHMEDABAD: Calling it a historic reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that large ships will now be officially recognized as infrastructure a move that will ease financing, lower interest rates, and empower Indian shipping companies to compete globally. He also announced three new schemes worth Rs 70,000 crore to: Modernize shipyards, adopt cutting-edge technologies and upgrade design and quality standards. Reinforcing his mantra Chips or ships, made in India Modi introduced a One Nation, One Document and One Nation, One Port Process, scrapping outdated colonial-era laws and streamlining trade and port operations. Calling Indias coastlines gateways to national prosperity, Modi emphasized that peace, stability, and global growth depend on Indias self-reliance. He asserted, Chips or ships, we must make them in India. Capping the day with a massive development push, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 34,200 crore at the Samudra se Samriddhi event, giving Gujarats Bhavnagar a major boost as a maritime hub. Modi declared, Indias coastlines will become gateways to national prosperity, and warned that the countrys greatest enemy today is not an external force, but dependence on other nations. India has no major enemy in the world, but our biggest adversary is dependence on others. Greater dependence leads to greater national failure, Modi said, urging people to embrace Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Modi revealed the staggering financial loss India incurs due to reliance on foreign shipping. He said India pays $75 billion (Rs 6 lakh crore) annually to foreign shipping companies nearly equivalent to the countrys defence budget. If previous governments had invested in our shipping sector, the world today would be using Indian ships, and India would be earning lakhs of crores, he said, blaming past regimes for reducing Indias shipping share from 40% to just 5%. Describing shipbuilding as the Mother of All Industries, Modi said its revival would generate a ripple effect across sectors such as: Steel, machinery, electronics, textiles, information technology and MSMEs. He emphasized that every rupee invested in shipbuilding would generate double the return, and that 100 shipyard jobs would create 600 additional jobs in supporting industries. Citing progress over the past decade, Modi noted that India has built over 40 ships and submarines, including the INS Vikrant, underscoring the nations capabilities and political will. Gujarat featured prominently in Modis maritime roadmap. He announced that 40% of Indias sea cargo already flows through Gujarats ports. These ports will soon be linked to the Dedicated Freight Corridor, accelerating cargo movement. The Alang Ship Breaking Yard, a global hub, is generating massive employment. Gujarats coastline is setting benchmarks for port-led growth. Modi also highlighted recent developments in other states and said that Indias first deep-water container trans-shipment port in Kerala has begun operations. The Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, with an investment of Rs 75,000 crore, will rank among the worlds top 10 ports, he said. Currently handling 10% of global maritime trade, India aims to triple this share by 2047, Modi said. He also noted the rise in Indian seafarers from 1.25 lakh to over 3 lakh in the past decade placing India among the top three suppliers of maritime professionals globally. To honor Indias ancient maritime legacy, Modi announced the development of a world-class maritime museum at Lothal, akin to how the Statue of Unity symbolizes national pride. Concluding his speech, Modi urged citizens to support indigenous products and encouraged shopkeepers to display signs reading: Say with pride, this is Swadeshi. Every festival should become a celebration of Indias prosperity, he said, wishing the nation a joyous Navratri.
Dependence on other nations is India's biggest enemy, 'self-reliance' only solution, says PM Modi
BHAVNAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India's main adversary is its dependence on other nations as he raised the pitch for 'aatmanirbharta' and called for the indigenous production of everything from (semiconductor) chips to ships. Addressing the 'Samudra se Samruddhi' event, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects costing Rs 34,200 crore, Modi said all problems of India have only one solution, and that is self-reliance. India is moving forward with the spirit of global brotherhood and India has no major enemy in the world today, but in true terms, India's biggest adversary is dependence on other nations, stated the Prime Minister, emphasising that this dependency must be collectively defeated. He said greater foreign dependence leads to greater national failure. For global peace, stability, and prosperity, the world's most populous country must become self-reliant, PM Modi said and cautioned that reliance on others compromises national self-respect. The future of 140 crore Indians cannot be left to external forces, nor can the resolve for national development be based on foreign dependency. The future of the coming generations cannot be left to others. If the country with a population of 140 crore is dependent on others, it compromises national self-respect, he added. As per a popular saying, 100 types of pains have only one remedy; similarly, all problems of India have one solution, and that is aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), he stated. Trump's $100k visa: Another move aimed at hurting India? H-1B visa fee hike to ripple across sectors; may affect up to 5.2% of Indias IT-BPM workforce Targeting Congress, PM Modi said the talent of young people was suppressed after Independence by the then ruling party which brought restrictions like license Raj. As a result of consistently ignoring inherent strengths of India, the country couldn't achieve the success it truly deserved even after six to seven decades of freedom, Modi said and blamed 'prolonged entanglement in the license-quota regime and isolation from global markets' as the main factors. When the globalisation era began, the then governments focused solely on imports, which led to scams of thousands of crores, he said. These policies caused significant harm to India's youth and prevented the nation's true potential from emerging, he added. Citing India's shipping sector as a major example of the damage caused by flawed policies, Modi remarked that India was historically a very vibrant ship building industry. Ships built in India's coastal states once powered domestic and global trade. Even fifty years ago, India used domestically built ships, with over 40 percent of its import-export conducted through them. Till 50 years ago, our trade was carried out by 40 per cent ships made in India, but this has now come down to just 5 per cent, the PM pointed out. He said India pays a staggering USD 75 billion or approximately Rs 6 lakh crore every year to foreign shipping companies for their services. Can people imagine how much money has been paid in freight to other countries over the past seven decades? This outflow of funds has created millions of jobs abroad. If even a small portion of this expenditure had been invested by earlier governments in the domestic shipping industry, the world would have been using Indian ships today, and India would be earning lakhs of crores in shipping services, the PM added. Chips (semiconductor chips) or ships, we must make them in India, Modi said, adding that domestic ports are the backbone of India's rise as a global maritime powerhouse. PM Modi said India's maritime sector is now moving towards next-generation reforms. He announced that from today, all major ports in the country will be freed from multiple documents and fragmented processes. The implementation of 'One Nation, One Document' and 'One Nation, One Port' Process will simplify trade and commerce, he said. He highlighted that during the recent monsoon session, several outdated laws from the colonial era were amended. He said a series of reforms have been initiated in the maritime sector, and five maritime laws have been introduced in a new form. These laws will bring major changes in shipping and port governance, he added. The PM said a historic decision has been taken to strengthen the maritime sector (with) large ships now accorded the infrastructure status. When a sector receives infrastructure recognition, it gains significant advantages. Ship-building companies will now find it easier to secure loans from banks and will benefit from reduced interest rates. All benefits associated with infrastructure financing will now be extended to these ship-building enterprises, Modi added. He said the government is working on three major schemes to make India a major maritime power. These initiatives will ease financial support for the shipbuilding sector, help shipyards adopt modern technology, and improve design and quality standards. Over Rs 70,000 crore will be invested in the coming years, he said. PM noted that shipbuilding is globally referred to as the mother of all industries as it drives the growth of allied sectors. He exuded confidence that India's coastlines will become gateways to national prosperity. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects related to the maritime sector worth more than Rs 7,870 crore. He also unveiled and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects of the Central and state governments, worth more than Rs 26,354 crore, catering to various sectors in Gujarat.
If we have an enemy, its dependence on other countries: PM Modi in Gujarats Bhavnagar
PM Modi went ahead to say that every shop should sell products that are totally Swadeshi. We have to become completely self-reliant and self-sufficient, he said
Dependence on Other Nations Indias True Enemy, Self-Reliance the Only Cure: PM Modi
Bhavnagar, Sep 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a strong pitch for atmanirbharta saying the main enemy of India was the dependence on other nations and asserting the country should make everything from (semiconductor) chips to ships. He was speaking at the Samudra se Samruddhi event in Gandhi Maidan in Gujarats Bhavnagar, where [] The post Dependence on Other Nations Indias True Enemy, Self-Reliance the Only Cure: PM Modi appeared first on Northlines .
Indias Only Enemy Is Dependence On Others, Atmanirbharta The Remedy: PM Modi
He was speaking at the 'Samudra se Samruddhi' event in Gandhi Maidan in Gujarat's Bhavnagar, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects entailing a total cost of Rs 34,200 crore.
Dependence On Other Nations Indias Only Enemy, Atmanirbharta Only Medicine: PM Modi
Bhavnagar, Sep 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a strong pitch for atmanirbharta saying the main enemy of India was the dependence on other nations and asserting the country should make everything from (semiconductor) chips to ships. He was speaking at the Samudra se Samruddhi event in Gandhi Maidan in Gujarats Bhavnagar, where he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects entailing a total cost of Rs 34,200 crore. In the true sense, India does not have any [] The post Dependence On Other Nations Indias Only Enemy, Atmanirbharta Only Medicine: PM Modi appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Modi: 40% Trade Once on India Ships, Now 5%
PM in Bhavnagar warns Indias shipping bill rivals defence budget; urges revival of India-made ships
Modi Lays Foundation of Rs 34,200 cr Projects in Bhavnagar
PM greeted with flowers, cultural performances mark one-km route from airport to Gandhi Maidan
PM Modi to inaugurate multiple development projects worth over 34,200 crore at Bhavnagar
As part of it, he will virtually inaugurate the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock
PM Modi attends Samudra se Samriddhi programme in Bhavnagar, Gujarat
PM Modi holds roadshow in Bhavnagar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a roadshow in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, commencing from the airport and culminating at Gandhi Maidan, the location for his public address. He acknowledged the enthusiastic crowds lining the route, who welcomed him with floral tributes. The roadshow featured dance performances and displays celebrating Operation Sindoor and expressing gratitude for GST reforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 34,200 crore in Gujarat. The Samudra se Samriddhi event in Bhavnagar will witness the launch of maritime sector projects exceeding Rs 7,870 crore, including the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal.
PM Modi to review progress of National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal
Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat to assess the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal. The project costs Rs 4,500 crore. It will showcase India's maritime history. The complex includes a lighthouse museum and theme parks. A maritime university and research institute will also be established. Modi will also inaugurate port projects in Bhavnagar.
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government admitted in the Assembly on Wednesday that 307 Asiatic lions, have died in just two years, despite spending Rs 37.35 crore to prevent unnatural deaths. The disclosure raises serious questions about conservation strategies, as the lion population now stands at 891, spread across seven districts. The deaths, driven by disease, internal fights, and accidents, reveal a grim battle for survival inside the Gir ecosystem and surrounding areas. Gujarat is the only home to Asiatic lions in the world, but behind the celebratory headlines of a rising lion population, a silent tragedy is unfolding. The 16th Asiatic Lion Census, conducted on May 13, 2025, counted 891 lions spread across seven districts, with the highest concentration in Amreli (339), followed by Gir-Somnath (222), Junagadh (191), Bhavnagar (116), Porbandar (16), Rajkot (6), and Devbhoomi Dwarka (1). These numbers, while impressive on paper, mask a disturbing reality: 307 lions have died in the last two years, revealing cracks in Gujarats much-touted conservation model. According to Government Data, between August 2023 and July 2024, the state lost 141 lions, a toll already alarming for a critically endangered species. Yet, instead of improving, the situation worsened. From August 2024 to July 2025, the death count spiked to 166, pushing the two-year total to a staggering 307 lions lost, a figure that threatens to undo decades of conservation efforts. While most deaths were classified as natural, many were preventable, exposing failures in disease control, veterinary care, and basic habitat safety. The year 2023-24 set the stage for this unfolding crisis, with disease emerging as the single largest killer, claiming 60 lives. Shrinking habitats forced lions into closer contact, leading to 38 deaths from violent territorial fights, while another 24 perished from old age. Human-linked threats also played a deadly role; seven lions fell into open wells, five were struck by trains, three drowned, and one each died in a road accident and by electrocution. By the end of that year, the total death toll stood at 141, painting a bleak picture of a fragile ecosystem under pressure. But the following year, 2024-25, the situation turned even grimmer. Illness-related deaths surged to 81, a 35% jump, highlighting growing gaps in disease monitoring and treatment. Internal fights remained a serious problem, killing 36 lions, while 27 succumbed to old age. Open wells turned deadlier, with 13 lions plunging to their deaths, while six drowned, two died from electric shocks, and one was hit by a vehicle. The result was 166 deaths in a single year, the highest in recent memory and a wake-up call for the states conservation machinery. The crisis is most visible in Amreli district, which, despite housing the largest lion population, has also become a graveyard for the species. Between January and July 2025 alone, 31 lions including 14 cubs and 17 lions, died, most of them from illnesses that could have been treated with timely intervention. Multiple organ failure claimed five cubs and six lions, while pneumonia, anaemia, and anoxia took five more lives. Pneumonia and septicemia together killed four lions, while respiratory, liver, and kidney failures accounted for six additional deaths, including two cubs. A fatal spinal cord injury ended the life of one cub, and a parasitic disease, anaplasmosis, claimed another four lives. These patterns reveal systemic weaknesses in veterinary care and health monitoring, with infections and preventable diseases spreading unchecked. Even as deaths mounted, the Gujarat government insists it has been pouring resources into conservation. Over the past two years, it spent Rs 20.35 crore in 2023-24 and another Rs 17 crore in 2024-25, totalling Rs 37.35 crore. However, the rising death toll tells a different story. Despite massive financial outlays, lions continue to die from basic, preventable causes such as open well accidents, poor disease management, and lack of emergency infrastructure, raising serious questions about accountability and effectiveness. This crisis matters not just for Gujarat but for the entire world. Asiatic lions are critically endangered, and Gujarat is their only natural habitat on Earth. While the census figures may create an illusion of stability, the sharp rise in deaths suggests a dangerous tipping point. If disease control, veterinary systems, and habitat safety measures are not urgently overhauled, Gujarats celebrated success story could collapse into a silent tragedy.
Ahmedabad Rural police seize ambergris worth 2.97 crore, two arrested
The arrested men were identified as Yogeshbhai Tulshibhai Makwana (30), a resident of Bhavnagar, and Pantukumaar Bharatbhai Patel (37), a resident of Ahmedabad
Man jailed for harassing lion in Gujarats Bhavnagar
According to the Forest Department, Shiyal was arrested on Wednesday under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act for disturbing and endangering a protected species
AHMEDABAD: A controversial anti-BJP post from the Facebook account of former Bhavnagar city BJP president Yogesh Badani triggered outrage and was deleted within 13 minutes, causing a stir within the partys internal circles. While Badani claims his account was misused, screenshots of the post went viral, triggering a storm of speculation. The post, which bore the explosive slogan BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao (Remove BJP, Save the Nation), was shared from Badanis official account, stunning party workers and sending shockwaves through the local leadership. As the controversy snowballed, Yogesh Badani broke his silence, telling local media that his Facebook account had been compromised. I suspect someone with prior access to my login credentials misused it. A supporter alerted me, and I deleted the post immediately, he said, adding that during his tenure as president, multiple people may have had access to his account. Amid the uproar, current Bhavnagar BJP president Kumarbhai Shah backed Badanis claim, stating, Yogesh bhai himself has clarified that his account was hacked. Badani is not a political lightweight; he has been associated with the BJP for three decades, served as Bhavnagar city unit president from 2004 to 2007, and held the post of general secretary twice. His deep organisational roots and active election roles make the incident all the more sensitive for the party. As questions mount and the BJP tries to contain internal damage, the 13-minute post has ignited a much longer political fire, one that the party will have to douse ahead of upcoming campaigns. Even prior to this episode, several BJP leaders in Gujarat had penned letters to the Chief Minister, openly questioning their own partys functioning and local officials, a move that has repeatedly exposed the simmering discontent within the partys Gujarat unit.
Man Arrested For Going Too Close To Lion In Gujarat, Video Goes Viral
Gautam Shiyal filmed harassing lion near Bhavnagar; court denies bail after Wildlife Act charges
AHMEDABAD: With the Gujarat BJP leadership in limbo and cabinet expansion hanging under fire, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has landed in Delhi on August 2 to hold crucial talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the heart of the discussions lies the long-delayed appointment of the new state party president, a decision that now appears imminent, with ripple effects expected in the state cabinet soon after. In a fast-moving political development, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on August 2 reached Delhi, setting the stage for high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid growing buzz around the Gujarat BJP presidents appointment and the long-pending cabinet expansion. The visit comes at a time when the BJP high command is said to have zeroed in on pushing through critical organisational changes that have been hanging in the balance for months. Barely hours before Patel's arrival in the capital, BJP national president JP Nadda, national general secretary (organization) BL Santosh, and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, who is also serving as the Gujarat election observer huddled in a closed-door meeting. From Bahucharaji to Bhavnagar, Gujarat BJP cadre on divided lines Sources confirm that the trio reached a consensus to fast-track the selection of the next Gujarat BJP president and wrap up the process by early next week. The stage is being set for a tightly scripted transition. BJP insiders say the leadership change will be symbolic in nature with only one name being greenlit by the party high command, effectively rendering the process uncontested. Once the central leadership signals the preferred choice, the candidate is expected to file a lone nomination at Kamalam, the party's Gujarat headquarters, and be declared unanimously elected without a formal vote. Names from Saurashtra and North Gujarat are doing the rounds for the top post, with the party reportedly keen on choosing an OBC leader to consolidate its social coalition. However, there is also speculation that the high command may go with a younger face to rebrand the Gujarat unit ahead of 2027. If required, a sitting minister may be asked to step down from the cabinet to take over the organisational reins. The leadership churn doesnt end there! Cabinet expansion, which has remained on hold for several months, is expected to follow after the presidents appointment. Sources say Bhupendra Patel is awaiting the new presidents installation before finalizing the cabinet shuffle, a move likely to reflect the internal balance of power between different factions in the party. The biggest question now: will CR Patils loyalists, who dominated the previous phase, retain influence in the new power structure? Or will the cabinet reshuffle signal a generational or regional shift? Either way, Gujarat BJP appears poised for a political reset, with Delhi pulling the strings and Kamalam awaiting the signal. Rahul Gandhi unleashes 'Sangathan' storm in Gujarat; calls BJP-RSS prasad politics divisive Important to defeat BJP in its 'main base': Rahul Gandhi tells Gujarat Congress leaders; slams EC as 'biased umpire'
Power play: High command to finalise Gujarat BJP President, cabinet overhaul likely to follow
AHMEDABAD: With the Gujarat BJP leadership in limbo and cabinet expansion hanging under fire, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has landed in Delhi on August 2 to hold crucial talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the heart of the discussions lies the long-delayed appointment of the new state party president, a decision that now appears imminent, with ripple effects expected in the state cabinet soon after. In a fast-moving political development, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on August 2 reached Delhi, setting the stage for high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid growing buzz around the Gujarat BJP presidents appointment and the long-pending cabinet expansion. The visit comes at a time when the BJP high command is said to have zeroed in on pushing through critical organisational changes that have been hanging in the balance for months. Barely hours before Patel's arrival in the capital, BJP national president JP Nadda, national general secretary (organization) BL Santosh, and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, who is also serving as the Gujarat election observer huddled in a closed-door meeting. From Bahucharaji to Bhavnagar, Gujarat BJP cadre on divided lines Sources confirm that the trio reached a consensus to fast-track the selection of the next Gujarat BJP president and wrap up the process by early next week. The stage is being set for a tightly scripted transition. BJP insiders say the leadership change will be symbolic in nature with only one name being greenlit by the party high command, effectively rendering the process uncontested. Once the central leadership signals the preferred choice, the candidate is expected to file a lone nomination at Kamalam, the party's Gujarat headquarters, and be declared unanimously elected without a formal vote. Names from Saurashtra and North Gujarat are doing the rounds for the top post, with the party reportedly keen on choosing an OBC leader to consolidate its social coalition. However, there is also speculation that the high command may go with a younger face to rebrand the Gujarat unit ahead of 2027. If required, a sitting minister may be asked to step down from the cabinet to take over the organisational reins. The leadership churn doesnt end there! Cabinet expansion, which has remained on hold for several months, is expected to follow after the presidents appointment. Sources say Bhupendra Patel is awaiting the new presidents installation before finalizing the cabinet shuffle, a move likely to reflect the internal balance of power between different factions in the party. The biggest question now: will CR Patils loyalists, who dominated the previous phase, retain influence in the new power structure? Or will the cabinet reshuffle signal a generational or regional shift? Either way, Gujarat BJP appears poised for a political reset, with Delhi pulling the strings and Kamalam awaiting the signal. Rahul Gandhi unleashes 'Sangathan' storm in Gujarat; calls BJP-RSS prasad politics divisive Important to defeat BJP in its 'main base': Rahul Gandhi tells Gujarat Congress leaders; slams EC as 'biased umpire'
ED Initiates PMLA Probe In Axis Mutual Fund 'Front-Running' Case, Conducts Multi-City Searches
The ED searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act were conducted in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Gurugram, Kolkata and Ludhiana, the sources said.
AHMEDABAD: Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, attending a travel fair organised at Gandhinagar on July 31 appealed for greater tourist footfall from Gujarat. He credited Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal for driving tourism to the Valley over the last 30 years. Speaking to the media at Ahmedabad airport ahead of a tourism fair, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, If you look at the last 3035 years, the maximum number of tourists to J&K have come from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. My team and I are here to promote J&K tourism, and we sincerely hope to welcome a large number of visitors from Gujarat in the coming season. On the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Abdullah added, We cannot rule out an intelligence and security failure; someone is accountable for what happened. Though the accused has been neutralised, the lack of clarity and responsibility on the security lapse is concerning. Pahalgam attack: UNSC report flags LeT-TRF link, boosts Indias case on Pakistan-backed terror In one of the deadliest extremist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent decades, 26 tourists, including several from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, were gunned down in a brutal ambush at Pahalgam, a scenic hotspot often dubbed the Mini Switzerland of India. Among the victims were Shailesh Kalthia from Surat and Yatish Parmar from Bhavnagar, along with his young son Smit Parmar. The attack not only shattered lives but also dealt a crippling blow to Kashmir's tourism economy. Panic spread swiftly across Gujarat, with many families abruptly cancelling their scheduled trips to the valley. Even seasoned tourists who visited Kashmir annually chose to stay away this time, triggering a sharp nosedive in footfall and revenues. Tourism, which contributes nearly 7-8% to J&Ks GDP, is the lifeline of the regions economy, employing over 2.5 lakh people directly. More than 1,500 houseboats on Srinagars iconic Dal Lake and countless hotels, guides, drivers, and small businesses depend solely on tourist inflow. Jammu and Kashmir tourism departmentholds road show to woo tourists in city The annual tourism industry, currently valued at 12,000 crore, had been projected to soar to 25,00030,000 crore by 2030. But the terror strike marked the beginning of a dark phase, unravelling years of growth. This disruption hit just as Kashmir had started experiencing a boom in tourism post-COVID. From 34 lakh visitors in 2020, the numbers had surged to 1.13 crore in 2021, 1.88 crore in 2022, 2.11 crore in 2023, and 2.36 crore in 2024 including over 65,000 foreign tourists. Now, in a strategic move to rebuild trust and revive inflows, Omar Abdullah is making a direct outreach aimed at reconnecting with the Gujarati tourist base that once played a pivotal role in driving valley tourism. Poor road defeats Jammu and Kashmirtourism goals
From Bahucharaji to Bhavnagar, Gujarat BJP cadre on divided lines
AHMEDABAD: Once hailed for its internal discipline and ironclad organisation, the Gujarat BJP is now witnessing open turf wars between MLAs and local units, exposing growing rifts from villages to the state capital. The conflict rooted in ticket tussles, ego clashes, and a stalled state leadership is not just political friction but a full-blown public spectacle threatening the partys grassroots grip. The most glaring flashpoint erupted in Bahucharaji, Mehsana, where the cold war between Taluka BJP President Kamlesh Desai and local MLA Sukhaji Thakor finally spilled out in public. At a felicitation ceremony for newly elected sarpanchs in Surpura village, the MLAs conspicuous absence has triggered political speculation. A furious Kamlesh Desai accused Thakor of deliberately skipping the event despite being present in the area and even threatened to lodge a formal complaint. The show of disunity reflected a deeper rot, zero coordination between the organisational wing and the elected representative. In retaliation, MLA Sukhaji Thakor didnt mince words. He hit back at Desai, accusing him of sabotaging his 2022 campaign and running the organisation like a personal fiefdom. According to Thakor, Desai is more focused on self-promotion than party building, a jab that underlines long-simmering tensions dating back to the ticket distribution battle of 2022. Back then, according to a party insider, state BJP general secretary Rajni Patel had lobbied for the Bahucharaji seat for himself or a loyalist, but the high command handed it to Thakor instead, a staunch opponent of Patel. Furious, Patels faction reportedly turned cold, with local BJP leaders refusing to rally behind Thakors campaign. Though Thakor ultimately won with state backing, the real blow came post elections, when Patel loyalist Kamlesh Desai was installed as taluka president, a strategic move seen as payback. Meanwhile, a similar feud has exploded in Vallabhipur, Bhavnagar. At a Sarpanch event in Limda village, former district BJP chief Mukesh Langaliya publicly accused MLA Shambhunath Tundiya of shielding corrupt aides who extort money from contractors working on local infrastructure projects. The charges involving causeways, government buildings, and highway works are serious enough to have reached the state BJPs corridors, even as Langaliya went rogue by defying party orders and holding the event, effectively splitting the local unit into two warring camps. The unrest isn't limited to rural Gujarat. In Ahmedabads Asarwa constituency, BJP MLA Darshanaben Vaghela was recently surrounded by angry citizens over basic civic amenities. A video of the confrontation shot near the Civil Hospital went viral, prompting severe embarrassment for the city BJP leadership. While corporators and ward workers were scolded, the political damage had already been done. Party insiders say the clip has now made its way to state-level leaders, intensifying concerns about the BJPs urban image. Adding fuel to the fire is the state-level leadership vacuum. Its been over seven months since the BJP formed its new organisational structure, yet the state president's chair remains with questions. With no consensus on caste calculations, decision-making is stalled, and uncertainty is trickling down. CR Patil, whose extended term ended after the Lok Sabha elections, is set to complete five years as Gujarat BJP president, having taken charge on July 20, 2020. Despite his elevation to the Union Cabinet in June 2024, he continues to hold the post, making him one of the longest-serving state chiefs in recent times. Now largely absorbed in his Union ministerial role, leaving the state cadre without a visible guiding hand. The organisational drift is evident. Out of Gujarat's four BJP zones, only two have active general secretaries. Though city and district presidents were appointed months ago, theres been no finalisation of regional structures, and programs are limping forward amid factional bickering. From rural talukas to state headquarters, the BJPs famed discipline is unravelling, exposing deep cracks in Gujarats saffron fortress.
Ahmedabad Diary | Power struggles: Gujarat Congress in turmoil
After Shaktisinh Gohil stepped down as the Gujarat Congress chief, the hunt for a successor turned murky. Soon, a viral message on social media platforms claimed that a former president, an OBC leader, was reappointed, sparking confusion. Congress insiders suspect this was a planted move by his rivals to sabotage his chances. While no one has claimed responsibility, the damage was done to his succession. Meanwhile, more than 15 Congress leaders rushed to Delhi to lobby with Rahul Gandhi, triggering buzz that one of them might land the top post. The misleading social media message declaring a new state chief only deepened the internal chaos. BJP ex-dist chiefs graft claims on MLA sparks row The simmering internal rift in Gujarats Vallabhipur BJP in Bhavnagar district has burst into the open, with its former district BJP president Mukesh Langaliya launching a scathing attack on the local MLA. The flashpoint came during a felicitation event for 37 village sarpanches in Limda, where Langaliya openly criticised the way of working of the BJP legislator. He accused the MLA of protecting a coterie of corrupt aides and alleged rampant corruption in causeway construction, Mamlatdar office projects, and National Highway works. The fact that such charges come from a BJP leader against his own MLA has sparked a row. CMs insensitive remark on bridge collapse The collapse of the central span of the Gambhira Bridge over the Mahi River, which connects the towns of Anand and Padra, caused two trucks, two pickup vans, and a rickshaw to sink into the river, resulting in the deaths of at least twenty people. In response, the Gujarat government announced Rs 4 lakh relief to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. However, CM Bhupendra Patels statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling it the collapse of one of 23 spans, has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders and citizens. Further, BJP leaders echoed similar downplaying language, fuelling public outrage over the perceived insensitivity. Dilip Singh Kshatriya Our correspondent in Gujarat dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com
