Si Nonna's Becomes India's First Pizzeria to Receive the Prestigious AVPN Certification
Si Nonnas , the much-loved pizzeria bringing the authentic flavours of Naples to Indias vibrant culinary scene, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first pizzeria in India to receive the globally recognised certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, known worldwide as AVPN. Founded in Naples in 1984, the AVPN is the international authority that protects and promotes the tradition of true Neapolitan pizza. With fewer than one thousand certified pizzerias across more than sixty countries, this recognition places Si Nonnas among an elite global community committed to preserving the centuries-old art of Neapolitan sourdough pizza making. Si Nonnas Becomes Indias First Pizzeria to Receive the Prestigious AVPN Certification The certification confirms that Si Nonnas sourdough pizzas adhere to every international standard set by AVPN, including the precise method of dough preparation, fermentation, ingredient quality, oven specifications and baking technique. Each pizza is crafted using a twenty-four hour sourdough fermentation process that ensures a light, airy and flavourful crust. The recipe finds its inspiration in a serendipitous encounter with Nonna Gallianos original mother dough in Naples, which sparked the vision of bringing an authentic Italian experience to Indian diners. At the same time, Si Nonnas has thoughtfully adapted its approach to scale across India, combining traditional Italian craftsmanship with local insights to ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility across multiple outlets. For Si Nonnas, this achievement represents more than international recognition. It is a validation of the brands philosophy of staying true to authentic Italian sourdough craftsmanship while innovating to meet Indian tastes and dining expectations. With the AVPN certification, Si Nonnas now stands shoulder to shoulder with the worlds most respected pizzerias and sets a new benchmark for quality, precision, and authenticity in Indias dining landscape. Speaking about the achievement, Ayush Jatia, Founder of Si Nonnas , said, Earning the AVPN certification is a landmark moment not only for Si Nonnas but also for the evolution of pizza culture in India. It reaffirms our promise of bringing true Neapolitan flavours and techniques to Indian diners. Being the first pizzeria in India to achieve this honour is incredibly humbling and fills us with immense pride. This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of our team, and it motivates us to continue sharing the joy of authentic Italian sourdough pizza with every guest who walks through our doors. Every stage of Si Nonnas pizza-making process follows AVPN guidelines with complete dedication. From using specific flours and natural yeast to maintaining the precise conditions in their custom-built ovens lined with tiles made from Vesuvian lava, each pizza reflects the art and science behind true Neapolitan craftsmanship. The certification is not just a recognition but also reflects the teams passion, precision, and commitment to delivering authentic sourdough pizzas at every outlet. Antonio Pace, President of AVPN , congratulated Si Nonnas and said, We are delighted to welcome Si Nonnas into the global AVPN family. Their pursuit of excellence and their respect for Neapolitan tradition in a market as diverse and fast growing as India demonstrate the universal appeal of our heritage. Their achievement represents a remarkable step in the global story of true Neapolitan sourdough pizza. Si Nonnas continues to expand its presence with more than thirty five outlets across eight major Indian cities including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Delhi NCR, Indore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Gandhinagar and Bangalore. Each location remains dedicated to the same philosophy of serving sourdough pizzas that balance authenticity, flavour and craft. With this certification, Si Nonnas further strengthens its position as a pioneer in Indias evolving gourmet landscape, offering guests the assurance that every pizza they enjoy meets the highest international standard of authenticity and quality. As Indias appetite for authentic, high-quality dining experiences continues to grow, Si Nonnas now stands as a bridge between Italian heritage and Indian innovation. The AVPN certification cements its place as a trailblazer that has not only elevated the countrys pizza culture but has also redefined how authenticity is experienced, celebrated.
MoU signed with Gujarat maritime board for investment of Rs 17,000 crore
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a capital investment of Rs 17 thousand crores was signed by Gujarat Maritime Board and Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited (APM Terminals) in Gandhinagar on Wednesday in the inspiring presence of Chief Minister Patel and AP Moller-Maersk Board Chairman Robert Maersk Ugla.
Rajasthan HC grants six-month interim bail to Asaram Bapu on health grounds
JAIPUR:In a major relief to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, the Rajasthan High Court has granted him six-month interim bail on health grounds. Asaram is serving life sentence in Jodhpur Central Jail for sexually assaulting a minor. He has been reportedly suffering from poor health for a long time. The case was heard by a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Sanjiv Prakash Sharma. Senior Supreme Court advocate Devdutt Kamat and advocate Yashpal Singh Rajpurohit appeared on behalf of Asaram. They argued that his deteriorating health required continuous medical attention, which was not possible while in jail. Additional Advocate General (AAG) Deepak Chaudhary represented the Rajasthan government, while advocate P.C. Solanki appeared for the victim. After hearing all parties, the Bench granted Asaram six months interim bail in the first such relief from the Rajasthan High Court. It is worth noting that Asaram has been serving his sentence since April 2018. Earlier, on January 7, 2025, the Supreme Court had granted him interim bail in a separate Gujarat case on medical grounds. Following the expiry of the bail, he surrendered on August 30. Asaram then filed a petition in the Rajasthan High Court seeking an extension of his bail. On August 27, a Division Bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Vineet Kumar Mathur rejected his plea, citing a medical board report from Ahmedabads Government Hospital, which stated that his condition was stable and did not require hospitalisation. The court also observed that Asaram had been visiting multiple hospitals in recent months without regular follow-up treatment. Asaram has been convicted in two rape cases. The first case was registered in Jodhpur on August 21, 2013, following an FIR lodged at the citys womens police station for the rape of a minor. He was arrested from his Indore ashram on August 31, 2013, and a 1,021-page charge sheet was filed on November 6, 2013. The Jodhpur Sessions Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on April 25, 2018. In another case, filed in Ahmedabad in August 2013 by a woman from his Gandhinagar ashram, Asaram was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by the court on January 31, 2023.
Rao suggested the Special Investigation Team (SIT)probing allegations of voter fraud in the Aland constituency should also look at his own seat
Gujarat Congress warns govt of 'Nepalwali' agitation if farmers demands ignored
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda on Wednesday issued a two-month ultimatum to the Bhupendra Patel government, warning of a mass agitation and Nepalwali (As happened in Nepal) style revolt if farmers demands remain unfulfilled. Addressing a gathering at Rajkot, Chavda, joined by top Congress brass, launched a blistering attack on the BJP government, accusing it of corruption, arrogance, and indifference toward farmers pain. Amit Chavda tore into the BJP-led government over its alleged neglect of farmers. Speaking at the Krishak Andolan Kshetriya Mahapanchayat and Jan Akrosh Sabha, Chavda accused the state of turning its back on the very hands that feed Gujarat. In a gathering buzzing with farmers, activists, and senior Congress leaders including Mukul Wasnik, Shaktisinh Gohil, and Geniben Thakor, Chavda declared that if the government fails to address farmers grievances within two months, the Congress will mobilize villagers across Gujarat to surround the Assembly in Gandhinagar and launch a relentless agitation until justice is served. If the government does not work in the interest of farmers, we will surrender 100 percent of our seats but we will not surrender our fight! He warned the ruling dispensation that public anger is swelling, adding, If pushed further, we will do Nepalwali and this time, the throne will not survive. The Congress chief linked the rising farmer distress to the governments complete policy failure, citing unseasonal rain losses, lack of compensation, and poor insurance support under the Prime Ministers Fasal Bima Yojana. The party demanded fair prices for crops, immediate relief packages, and timely aid for affected farmers. Shifting his attack to the BJPs internal power politics, Chavda took sharp jabs at the recent cabinet reshuffle, alleging it was a smokescreen to hide corruption. The entire team was corrupt thats why they were removed, In a stinging swipe at government, Chavda alleged, In BJP, honest leaders linked with the land and people are sidelined. Those under whose liquor, gambling, and hooliganism rise they get promotions.
Couple among 4 from Gujarat return home after being held hostage in Iran for ransom
Four Gujarati residents, including a married couple from Gandhinagar district, have returned home safely. They were allegedly held hostage in Iran while traveling to Australia. The group reached Ahmedabad via New Delhi after their ordeal. Local authorities are awaiting their recovery to investigate the incident further.
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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.
Shah inaugurates MLA quarters in Gandhinagar; lays foundation stone for road project
AHMEDABAD, Oct 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed residential quarters for Gujarats MLAs in the capital Gandhinagar, and laid the foundation stone for a road project in Sanand taluka of Ahmedabad district. Shah, who represents the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, reached the state capital on the third day of his Gujarat visit amid the Diwali festivities to inaugurate the residential apartments for the MLAs in Sector 17. The complex with 216 apartments in 12 [] The post Shah inaugurates MLA quarters in Gandhinagar; lays foundation stone for road project appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gandhinagar police rescue six-month-old baby hours after abduction
AHMEDABAD: A six-month-old baby who was snatched near Chhatral Road, Gandhinagar, on Diwali was safely reunited with the family. The incident happened around 8.30 pm on October 21 when the family was out shopping. Gandhinagar Police formed multiple teams, including LCB and SOG, to track the kidnapper and arrested the person with the help of CCTV analysis, technical surveillance, and tips from private informants. CCTV footage revealed a woman in a green saree carrying the baby away from a lorry. Investigations traced her identity to Madhiben, a resident of Bileshwarpura. Surveillance pinpointed her location in Meda Adaraj, leading to a coordinated police operation. By 10:30 am on October 22, the police had caught Madhiben with the baby. During questioning, she confessed to abducting the child, citing her inability to have children as the motive. Gandhinagar Police official stated: The baby was kidnapped around 8:30 pm near Chhatral Bridge. Our teams worked relentlessly through the night, tracking CCTV footage and using technical surveillance. By 10:30 am, we apprehended the accused and recovered the child safely. Quick action and coordination were key. The baby was immediately returned to the family. Locals and relatives lauded the polices swift and effective operation, calling it a perfect example of precision law enforcement.
Gandhinagar: CM Bhupendra Patel Meets Governor Acharya Devvrat #Gallery - Social News XYZ
Gandhinagar: CM Bhupendra Patel Meets Governor Acharya Devvrat #Gallery Social News XYZ
BJP MLAs need not worry, infrastructure funds will be in their kitty: CM Siddaramaiah
BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday that he will not discriminate against BJP MLAs in allocation of funds for development projects across the state. Speaking after launching work on a Rs 58.44-crore white topping and road development project in Chickpet ward of Gandhinagar Assembly constituency here, Siddaramaiah hit out at Opposition BJP stating that a Rs 11,300-crore grant announced by the NDA government at the Centre for various development projects in the city has not been released. The Centre has also notreleased the GST share of Rs 15,000 crore. He criticised the BJP leaders from the state for not pressuring the Centre to release the promised funds. The Modi government announced Rs 11,400 crore as a special grant for various development projects in Bengaluru. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman announced Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project. But the Centre did not give a single rupee to the state. I thought the Metro project will be implemented on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis by the state and Union governments. But it is not happening. Despite the state governments contribution of 83.12%, the BJP leaders claim that it is a Central project, he said. Criticising Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka and other BJP leaders, Siddaramaiah said not a single road was built when that party was in power inthe state. It did not even fix a single pothole,he alleged. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said during Manmohan Singhs tenure as Prime Minister, the state received funds for various projects under the JNNURM scheme. The contribution of BJP MPs to the state is nil, he alleged. When PM Modi came to inaugurate Metro Yellow Line, I requested him for funds for projects worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore to be implemented in the city. Bengaluru pays the highest taxes after Mumbai. I have not received any reply from the Union government so far, he said.
White topping DPR being prepared for 500-km Bengaluru roads: D.K. Shivakumar
Speaking after inaugurating the white topping and comprehensive road development work in the Gandhinagar Assembly Constituency, he said the city has 1,650 km of major roads, with white topping currently being done on 104 km of new roads
Bengaluru Potholes Must be Filled in a Week: CM
The CM made the remarks after flagging off projects for the comprehensive development of roads, including white topping, in the Gandhinagar Assembly constituency: Reports
Gujarat Cabinet Rejig: Harsh Sanghvi, Rivaba Jadeja and 24 others sworn in as ministers
Gujarat's revamped cabinet saw 26 ministers sworn in, including new Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi and Rivaba Jadeja. The ceremony in Gandhinagar was attended by Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and BJP National President JP Nadda. Several other prominent leaders also took their oaths.
All 16 Ministers In Gujarat Submit Resignations To CM Patel Ahead Of Cabinet Expansion
GANDHINAGAR, Oct 16: A day ahead of the planned cabinet expansion in Gujarat, all 16 ministers except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel resigned on Thursday, BJP sources said. Patel will expand his cabinet on Friday, the state government had announced earlier in the morning. Resignations of all the 16 ministers have been taken by the party. Except for chief minister Patel, all the ministers have resigned, said a BJP source. As per the official release, the cabinet expansion will take place [] The post All 16 Ministers In Gujarat Submit Resignations To CM Patel Ahead Of Cabinet Expansion appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat Cabinet Expansion Announced, Swearing-In Ceremony to Be Held Tomorrow
Gandhinagar, October 16 (Udaipur Kiran): The official announcement of the Gujarat cabinet expansion has been made. The swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers will take place on Friday, October 17, at 11:30 AM at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, in the presence of senior BJP central leaders. According to a statement issued by the State ... Read more Gujarat Cabinet Expansion Announced, Swearing-In Ceremony to Be Held Tomorrow
Official Announcement of Gujarat Cabinet Expansion; Swearing-In Ceremony on Friday
Gandhinagar, October 16 (Daily Kiran): The Gujarat government has officially announced the much-anticipated cabinet expansion, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Friday, October 17, at 11:30 AM at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The event will take place in the presence of senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to a statement issued ... Read more Official Announcement of Gujarat Cabinet Expansion; Swearing-In Ceremony on Friday
Morality Has No Meaning Without Spirituality: Mohan Bhagwat
Ahmedabad, Oct 15: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said morality has no meaning without spirituality, and violence in society will stop if people follow the mantra I am in everyone, and everyone is in me. On the second day of his Gujarat visit, Bhagwat visited Preksha Vishva Bharati Dhyan Kendra at Koba near Gandhinagar city to meet Acharya Mahashramanji, a spiritual leader. I visit this place every year to charge my batteries, the RSS chief said [] The post Morality Has No Meaning Without Spirituality: Mohan Bhagwat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Centre to set up sixth NSG Black Cat commando hub in Ayodhya: Amit Shah
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that the government plans to set up the sixth regional hub of the Black Cat counter terrorism commando force NSG in Uttar Pradesh's temple town Ayodhya. The National Security Guard has regional hubs in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Gandhinagar, along with a small unit called task force in Jammu. While addressing the 41 st Raising Day of the National Security Guard at its headquarters in Haryanas Manesar, the Home Minister announced that the NSG hubs in different parts of the country enabled its commandos to reach any emergency immediately and effectively. In his address, the Home Minister also indicated that the government is working on a plan to bring in major changes in the functioning of the NSG in the coming days. So far, five hubs of the NSG have been established in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad (Gandhinagar). In addition, a new hub is also going to be set up in Ayodhya. Here, the NSG personnel will be deployed and available round the clock, he said. The government operationalised four regional hubs of the NSG in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata on June 30 and July 1, 2009. The decision to set up these hubs was taken following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008 to reduce the time in mobilising the elite commandos in the event of terror attacks. During the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the NSG commandos were required to be airlifted from Delhi, which caused critical delays. In March 2011, the central government gave the nod for setting up another NSG regional hub in Gandhinagar. Praising the NSGs efforts in fighting a formidable battle against terrorism for the past four decades, the Home Minister said that it was reassuring for the countrymen that their security and fight against terrorism are in safe hands. With the three principles: Sarvatra, Sarvottam, Suraksha, and by making Samarpan, Saahas and Rashtrabhakti, its hallmarks, the NSG has fought a formidable battle against organised crime and terrorism in this country for four decades, he said. Shah said that the Special Operation Training Centre (SOTC), which was inaugurated today, was not only for the NSG but also for the state police forces. I want to tell all the state police forces that the Special Operation Training Centre inaugurated today is not only for NSG, but it will be available to them, he said. The Home Minister said that the SOTC, which has been built at a cost of Rs 141 crore, would provide state-of-the-art training for commandos to combat terrorism.
Govt To Set Up A Hub Of Black Cat Commando Force NSG In Ayodhya: Amit Shah
Manesar (Haryana), Oct 14: The government will set up another regional hub of the Black Cat commando force NSG in Uttar Pradeshs temple town Ayodhya, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday. This will be the sixth regional hub of the National Security Guard (NSG) after the existing hubs of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Gandhinagar. The force also has a small unit called task force in Jammu. NSG hubs in different parts of the country enable its commandos [] The post Govt To Set Up A Hub Of Black Cat Commando Force NSG In Ayodhya: Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Govt to set up National Security Guard Black Cat commando hub in Ayodhya: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the elite NSG commando force will establish its sixth regional hub in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This strategic move aims to significantly reduce response times during emergencies, ensuring swift deployment of commandos across the country. The new hub joins existing facilities in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Gandhinagar, enhancing national security capabilities.
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.
I Love Muhammad Row, Youth Attacked Over Lord Shiva Post, And Stone-pelting At Garba
The government of Gujarat has launched a massive demolition drive in Gujarats Dahegam municipality-based Bahiyal village of the Gandhinagar district of Gujarat, following the recent communal riots during Navratri. The riots broke out on 24th September following a controversial social media post, prompting stone pelted between two groups. Police then registered riot cases against close Continue reading I Love Muhammad Row, Youth Attacked Over Lord Shiva Post, And Stone-pelting At Garba The post I Love Muhammad Row, Youth Attacked Over Lord Shiva Post, And Stone-pelting At Garba appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .
Demolition underway of illegal properties in Gandhinagar
The police had detained nearly 60 persons for the clash and rioting that occurred in the village. More than 200 people were involved in the rioting, in which several vehicles and shops were damaged and some were set on fire, the police had said.
Illegal encroachment crackdown: Over 186 structures demolished in Gandhinagar's Bahiyal
AHMEDABAD: Former Gujarat Assembly Speaker and senior BJP leader Ramanlal Vora is once again embroiled in controversy after a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat allegedly linked to him went viral. The message, reportedly from a party group, referred to doing a Visavadar-wali, a phrase widely interpreted within BJP circles as an allusion to anti-party activity. The phrase refers to the Visavadar Assembly by-election, where the BJP had suffered defeat at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party amid internal rifts and factionalism. The message was circulated in the context of the unfulfilled demand for the formation of Jadar taluka, sparking a political storm within the Sabarkantha unit of the BJP. As the controversy gained traction, Vora issued a clarification denying any disloyalty or negative remarks against the party. Vora admitted that the phone number and chat belonged to him, but maintained that the message was part of a conspiracy to defame him. I have never made any negative statements about the BJP. Since 2022, a false narrative has been running against me, and even a few within the BJP are behind it, he claimed. He further demanded that the state government should investigate the matter thoroughly and distinguish truth from falsehood. However, Vora did not explain how or by whom the message was circulated. This is not the first time the veteran leader has faced controversy. Earlier, party workers from Gandhinagar had accused him of illegally acquiring agricultural land despite not being a registered farmer, only to transfer the lands to his sons later. Several BJP members had called for a transparent probe into the alleged land deal. The repeated controversies surrounding Vora have raised questions within the party about internal discipline and factional politics, particularly at a time when the BJP is preparing for upcoming local and state-level electoral challenges.
'I am just a worker,' says Jagdish Panchal in his first address as Gujarat BJP chief
AHMEDABAD: In a strategically timed move, Gujarat BJP has officially appointed senior leader Jagdish Panchal as its new state president, making him the 14th chief of the partys Gujarat unit. Panchal, who filed his nomination on Friday, was elected unopposed. He formally took charge at BJP Headquarter Kamalam in Gandhinagar on Saturday. The suspense surrounding Gujarat BJPs leadership ended dramatically on Saturday as Jagdish Panchal was declared the new state president. The announcement came from the partys state election committee, which also oversaw his formal assumption of charge at Kamalam. The process leading to his elevation bore the unmistakable mark of Delhis strategic planning. Panchal had filed his nomination for the post on Friday, and handed it over to election office. As no other candidate entered the fray, his unopposed selection was a foregone conclusion. While his name surprised many within the state unit, recent political movements hinted that the groundwork for Panchals rise was laid well in advance. BJPs decision to conduct a formal election something not done during the appointments of CR Patil and Jitu Vaghani underscored the partys intent to showcase internal democracy even as the outcome was pre-decided. According to insider accounts, Panchals ascent began two days before the announcement when he received an unexpected call from Delhi. Dropping all commitments, he boarded a flight to the capital and held a series of meetings with top BJP leadership, including strategists and central observers. Interestingly, his visit remained under wraps, with no social media posts or political buzz a sign of tightly controlled communication from the partys command center. Within hours of his return to Ahmedabad, BJP Headquarter began to hum with activity, confirming the leadership change was imminent. At his first public address after assuming charge on Saturday, Jagdish Panchal struck a tone of humility and dedication. The identity of the president is not me it is the worker who sits in front of me, he declared, bowing before the party cadre. He invoked the BJPs ideological lineage from Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and pledged to strengthen the philosophy of Panch Nishtha and Ekatma Manav Darshan through service-oriented politics. Panchal also paid homage to past Gujarat stalwarts including Keshubhai Patel, Vijay Rupani, and praised Former Gujarat BJP president Vajubhai Vala, Jitu Vaghani, and C.R. Patil, crediting them for transforming BJP into a banyan tree of public trust. Reaffirming faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he hailed BJP as a symbol of trust, development, and new ideas. He credited Modis governance model from the abrogation of Article 370 to economic reforms like GST for propelling India to the worlds fourth-largest economy, and vowed to continue that momentum under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patels leadership. Closing his address on a personal note, Panchal recalled his fathers words Walk thinner than water as his guiding principle in leadership. If I remove the party sash, I am just a common worker. My only identity is saffron and the lotus, he said. With Jagdish Panchals elevation, Gujarat BJP appears to have balanced political equations and infused organizational continuity, preparing the ground for upcoming local elections while reinforcing its message that the partys strength lies in its disciplined cadre and unwavering leadership chain.
AHMEDABAD: Jagdish Vishwakarma is all set to be elected unopposed as Gujarat BJP president, strengthening Ahmedabads grip on both the government and the party. His elevation, strategically timed ahead of local body polls, signals not only a caste-calibrated move to balance Patidar and OBC power but also sets the stage for a looming cabinet expansion under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The suspense over Gujarat BJPs leadership has ended with a decisive twist. Jagdish Vishwakarma, MLA from Nikol in Ahmedabad city, is set to be announced as the partys new state president. The announcement, overseen by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, marks the culmination of a process that began on October 2 and concluded Friday, with Vishwakarma emerging as the sole candidate backed unanimously by 292 state council members. His elevation is no ordinary development. For the first time in years, both the government and the party organisation are controlled by leaders from the same city: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel from Ghatlodia in West Ahmedabad, and Vishwakarma from Nikol in East Ahmedabad. This rare concentration of power cements Ahmedabads dominance over Gujarats twin power centres Gandhinagars corridors of governance and the BJPs political machinery. The timing is crucial. With municipal and panchayat elections slated for next year, the BJP has deliberately handed the reins to an OBC leader, balancing caste equations in a state where Patel represents the Patidar stronghold. Vishwakarmas rise is being read as a direct counter to Congress, which recently appointed OBC leader Amit Chavda as its state president, signaling a head-on battle for backward class votes. But the story doesnt end with his election. Speculation is rife that Vishwakarmas tenure as president could be short-lived, as he is tipped to join the cabinet in the imminent reshuffle. If inducted, he would have to step down from the organisational post, triggering yet another leadership adjustment inside the BJP. Party strategists, however, insist that the Patel-Vishwakarma duo represents the perfect mix of Patidar strength and OBC outreach a social engineering model that will define the BJPs grassroots strategy leading into the 2027 Assembly polls. For now, the leadership question may be settled, but the spotlight shifts immediately to Gandhinagar, where the much-awaited cabinet expansion is expected to redraw Gujarats political map in the coming weeks.
CBI arrests govt official for taking bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh
New Delhi, Oct 3: The CBI has arrested an official of Integrated Financial Advisor, Controller General of Defence Accounts, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh to clear a supply order for installation of CCTVs in an Air Force station, officials said on Friday. The owner of the CCTV company approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claiming that Ashok Kumar Jadav, auditor/personnel of Integrated Financial Advisor (IFA), Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and an [] The post CBI arrests govt official for taking bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat man dies in custody two weeks after arrest for 'leaking' sensitive documents to journalist
AHMEDABAD: Nishidh Jani, a Gujarat Maritime Board clerk arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive documents to journalist Mahesh Langa, died in hospital after his health collapsed inside Sabarmati jail. His sudden death amid corruption and GST scam allegations linking him to Langa has raised serious questions. Jani died under mysterious circumstances just two weeks after his arrest in a sensitive document leak case tied to Langa. Already suffering from a lung-related ailment, he was lodged in Sabarmati Central Prison when his health deteriorated late Monday night. According to Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamsetty, jail officials rushed Jani to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment. The police officer confirmed that Jani had long struggled with lung problems, but his sudden collapse while in custody has drawn attention. Janis arrest was directly linked to the October 2024 case against Langa after Gandhinagar police recovered confidential Gujarat Maritime Board documents during a raid at the latter's residence. At the time, Langa had already been arrested by the Ahmedabad crime branch in connection with a Goods and Services Tax scam, deepening suspicions of a larger corruption nexus. Following the GMBs official complaint, police registered a separate case of document theft and corruption. Investigators soon identified Jani as the insider who allegedly passed the sensitive files to Langa. He was arrested two weeks ago under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions of theft and the Prevention of Corruption Act. While Langa continues to face multiple probes, Janis abrupt death has now cast a shadow on the entire investigation. With the key accused gone, questions linger over how deep the leak network ran inside the Gujarat Maritime Board and whether more names could tumble out.
From teacher to trickster: Gujarat police nab car scam kingpin in Mumbai
AHMEDABAD: A fraudster who rocked Gujarats online car market with a Rs 73 lakh fraud has finally landed in police net. Junagadh police nabbed the fraudster from Dahisar, Mumbai, after a high-tech chase across states. For three years, he duped car buyers and sellers on apps like OLX and CAR-24, trapping victims in 31 cases across 11 districts of Gujarat. The accused, Piyush Maheshbhai Patel (39), a resident of Visnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat was caught from Dahisar, Mumbai, after an intensive three-day surveillance operation. The story broke from Junagadh, where on September 25, 2025, a resident filed a complaint at the A-Division Police Station. The fraudster, posing as Dhaval Patel from CAR-24, trapped a local doctor by offering an inflated price for his Swift and luring him with a Brezza in return. Once the deal was set for just Rs 2.25 lakh through Angadiya payment, the scammer switched off his phone and vanished. The victims complaint led SP Subodh Odedara to order immediate action. PI and his team tracked the fraudsters digital trail, discovering he was operating from Mumbai. Using local intelligence, officers lay in wait inside a Mumbai salon for three days before finally nabbing the accused in Dahisar. Police interrogation peeled back Patels web of deceit. A former schoolteacher and car showroom worker, debt drove him into crime. His modus operandi was chillingly systematic: he would scan car-sale ads on OLX, pose as a CAR-24 agent, and bait owners with high offers. At the same time, he would tempt dealers in nearby cities with quick-sale cars at throwaway prices. Once both sides were convinced, Patel collected payments through Angadiya, then switched off his mobile and re-emerged with a new number and a new name. Patels aliases ranged from Dhawal, Arpit, Hardik, Sanjay, Rajendra Panchal, Jaimin, Hemala carousel of fake identities that helped him cheat buyers and sellers of 42 cars in three years. The confession is staggering: 31 cases registered in 11 districts, including Ahmedabad (6 cases), Gandhinagar, Bharuch, Botad, Banaskantha, Rajkot, and Kutch, with a total fraud of Rs 73.30 lakh. Earlier, he had already duped victims of nearly Rs 1 crore. From Patels possession, police seized a Samsung Galaxy A-35, 13 SIM cards, 3 blank HDFC cheques, and fraud-linked materials. His record reveals he turned Gujarats car market into his hunting ground, repeatedly exploiting digital platforms with surgical precision. The police have now tightened the investigation to identify possible accomplices and recover the looted money.
Hindu groups have responded with 'I Love Mahadev'and 'I Love Mahakaal'banners
BJP Functionaries Booked for Unlawful Protest in Bengaluru
The protest, which continued till 1 pm, saw BJP workers, including Gandhinagar BJP Mandal President Karunakar Yadav, Pradeep, Jayaram and others raising slogans against the government.
Tension, violence in Gandhinagar over social media post; 60 people detained
In Gandhinagar's Bahiyal village, approximately 60 individuals were detained after a social media post sparked clashes. The unrest began when a youth's post, intended to counter the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign, allegedly contained derogatory content, leading to protests, vandalism of shops and vehicles, arson, and stone pelting near the village garba venue.
Communal clashes in Gandhinagar over WhatsApp status, 60 detained
The conflict erupted over a WhatsApp status message referencing an ongoingsocial media trend on the declarations I love Muhammad or I love Mahadev
Violence erupts in Gujarat village over social media post; shops vandalised, 60 detained
Violence broke out in Bahiyal village of Gandhinagar district late on Wednesday night following an objectionable social media post, the police said on Thursday. According to officials, a group of people allegedly vandalised several shops and vehicles and pelted stones, prompting the police to detain around 60 persons in connection with the incident. Four shops and five to six vehicles were damaged in the attack, Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty told reporters. The violence was reportedly triggered by a social media post made by a Hindu man referencing the ongoing trend I love Muhammad, which angered members of the minority community, the SP said. At around 11 pm on Wednesday, a group allegedly broke the shutters of a shop belonging to the person who had uploaded the WhatsApp status. Goods were taken from the shop and set on fire, the official said. The group later hurled stones on Hindu areas. Stones were pelted at the group from Hindu areas aswell, the official added. Heavy police deployment has been made in the area, and the situation is now under control. No details of injuries were immediately available. (With inputs from PTI)
Gujarat killer gunned down by police during 'escape bid' at murder scene reconstruction
AHMEDABAD: The psycho killer who brutally stabbed a youth to death and attacked a young woman near Gandhinagars Ambapur Narmada Canal in Gujarat was gunned down by police during a dramatic encounter on Wednesday evening. The accused, Vipul Parmar, who had stabbed 22-year-old Vaibhav Manwani to death and injured a young woman during a brutal robbery, turned violent during the murder scene reconstruction, attempting to snatch a police revolver and injuring three officers before being shot dead. According to Gandhinagar Range IG Virendra Yadav, Parmar was handcuffed and being escorted by LCB PI Diwan Singh Wala and PI H.P. Parmar when he lunged at PSI Patadia, snatched his revolver, and opened fire. Head Constable Rajendra Singh was shot in the left hand as chaos erupted. Parmar then fired at police vehicles, shattering a front windshield and hitting another door, while attempting to flee through the canals service road. The police responded immediately, with PI Diwan Singh and PI H.P. Parmar firing back and fatally shooting Parmar. Emergency services were immediately informed, and 108 paramedics declared him dead on the spot. Three policemen were injured in the exchange, with Rajendra Singh currently undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital. This dramatic shootout was the culmination of a four-day manhunt. The shocking incident began on September 20 at 1:15 am, when Vaibhav and his female friend were sitting in a car near the canal celebrating a birthday. Vipul, roaming the area with robbery on his mind, ambushed the couple on a deserted stretch near Ambapur Canal Bridge. When Vaibhav resisted, Parmar stabbed him multiple times, killing him on the spot. The young woman was also brutally attacked and remains under treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Parmar fled with their car, cash, and valuables, but abandoned the vehicle shortly after it broke down. Following the murder, Parmar evaded police, taunting them while moving between Challa and Dehgam areas. With mounting pressure, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch joined the hunt and tracked him to Manda Dungar, Rajkot, where he was arrested on September 23. Interrogation revealed that Parmar was mentally unstable and prone to violent outbursts when provoked. On Wednesday, Parmar was brought back to the crime scene for reconstruction, but his violent attempt to escape turned into Gandhinagars first-ever police encounter, ending his reign of terror. The deceaseds body was taken to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, where the area was sealed off for a detailed panchnama. Today, a panel postmortem will be conducted in the presence of FSL experts, with the entire procedure being videographed to determine the exact sequence of gunfire. Forensic tests will also confirm how many rounds Parmar fired and how many were fired by the police in retaliation. IG Virendra Yadav clarified that the victims family was not present during the reconstruction, and Parmars relatives have been informed. As news of the encounter spread, locals who had been living in fear finally breathed a sigh of relief, marking the end of a chilling saga that began with a birthday celebration but ended in bloodshed and justice.
Gujarat model: Bulldozers for Dalits, poor, free land for crony capitalists, alleges Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP government in Gujarat of targeting Dalits, backward classes, and the poor with bulldozers, citing the demolition of 400 homes in Gandhinagar's Pethapur slum. He alleges the BJP favors crony capitalists by providing them with land for free, while dispossessing vulnerable communities.
Gujarat model: Bulldozers for Dalits, poor, free land for crony capitalists, alleges Rahul
New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling BJP in Gujarat on Wednesday of using bulldozers against Dalits, backwards and the poor, while giving thousands of acres of land to crony capitalists for free. He highlighted the razing of 400 houses in Gandhinagars Pethapur slum and dubbed it as the Gujarat model that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to implement across the country. Gandhi also shared a video of the razed houses on X. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said the BJP clearly knows that it cannot come to power through the
IPR Gandhinagar team proposes roadmap for Indias fusion power plans
Controlled fusion can only happen in extreme conditions, the kinds that exist inside stars. There are currently two popular ways to achieve this: inertial confinement and magnetic confinement. India is already invested in the magnetic confinement technique as a member of the ITER project, which is building a reactor in France
India Will Be Among Top 10 Countries On Global Innovation Index In Next 3 Years: Amit Shah
Gandhinagar, Sep 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said Indias ranking on the Global Innovation Index has gone up from 91 to 38 in the last decade, and expressed confidence that it would secure a position among the top 10 in the next three years. The Startup India campaign launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership has started showing results as India now has the third largest startup ecosystem globally, and has made the countrys youth job creators [] The post India Will Be Among Top 10 Countries On Global Innovation Index In Next 3 Years: Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
24-year-old youth stabbed to death in Gujarat, female friend injured; accused arrested
AHMEDABAD: The accused, Vipul Parmar, brutally stabbed 24-year-old youth Vaibhav Manwani to death and injured his female friend during a late-night birthday celebration. The injured is admitted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Crime Branch cracked the case after an intense manhunt involving five teams and arrested the accused. Driven by anger and mental instability over his failed marriage prospects, Parmar targeted couples to rob and kill. The nightmare unfolded at 1:15 am on September 20, when the duo was sitting inside a car near Ambapur, close to Adalaj. Out of the shadows emerged a knife-wielding stranger, demanding cash and valuables. When Vaibhav resisted, the attacker unleashed a frenzied assault, stabbing him multiple times before turning on the woman. The assailant fled with their car, mobile phones, and cash. But his escape was short-lived the stolen car broke down just a short distance away, forcing him to abandon it and disappear into the darkness. Five teams of the Gujarat Crime Branch swung into action, combing through CCTV footage and informers networks. Their relentless pursuit led to the arrest of Vipul Parmar, a repeat offender with a disturbing psychological profile. According to police sources, Parmar specifically targeted young couples near secluded spots like the canal. Parmar had registered himself on matrimonial sites and even contacted a girl, but his mother opposed the match. This rejection, coupled with a troubled childhood where his stepmother mistreated him after his parents separated, festered into rage. He would attack any couple he saw together, driven by hatred and frustration. His primary aim was robbery, but his anger made his crimes gruesome, a Police official said. Parmar had earlier served jail time for other offences and was out on bail when he struck again. Vaibhavs death has shocked Gandhinagar, especially as the investigation revealed that Parmar had been prowling the area for weeks, hunting for targets. Police are now probing his involvement in other unsolved robberies and attacks in the region.
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PM Modi undertakes aerial survey of Dholera Special Investment Region near Ahmedabad
The Dholera Special Investment Region is around 100 km south of Ahmedabad and 134 km from State capital Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar civic body begins demolition of 700 illegal structures along the Sabarmati river
About 150 houses and shops have been razed
Gujarat court issues notices to two journalists on Adani Group's defamation plaint
Adani Group has filed criminal defamation complaints against journalist Abhisar Sharma and blogger Raju Parulekar, leading to court notices for their appearance on September 20. The complaints, filed in Gandhinagar, accuse Sharma and Parulekar of disseminating false and defamatory content aimed at tarnishing the conglomerate's reputation through a YouTube video and social media posts.
Hindi should be language of science, judiciary, and police: Amit Shah
GANDHINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said there was no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages, and stressed that it should not just serve as a spoken tongue but must also become a language of science, technology, the judiciary, and police. Addressing the inaugural session of the 5th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan, Shah said Indians must preserve their languages and make them immortal, urging parents to speak to children in their mother tongue. There is no conflict between Hindi and other Indian languages. Learned men like Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi, KM Munshi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and many others accepted Hindi and promoted it. Gujarat, where Gujarati and Hindi have coexisted, is an excellent example of the development of both languages, he said. The Union minister said, Hindi is not just a spoken language or a language of administration. Hindi should also be the language of science, technology, justice and police. When all these works are done in Indian languages, then the connection with the public is automatically established. Shah said that while Sanskrit has given us he Ganga of knowledge, and Hindi has taken this knowledge to every home, and that knowledge has reached every person through our local languages. He said parents must always speak to children in their mother tongues. This is very important for the child's future, as many psychologists and educationists have confirmed that a child thinks in his mother tongue. As soon as you impose a language other than the mother tongue on a child, 25 to 30 per cent of his mind's capacity will be spent in translating it, Shah said. He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked to strengthen local languages through various types of technology, and the Home Ministry has created Bhartiya Bhasha Anubhag (Indian languages department), which will promote Hindi and other languages. For this, we are using science and technology a lot, he said. Shah said that Hindi has a place in education in Gujarat, a development which was made possible due to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Dayanand Saraswati, etc, who urged people to communicate with each other and promote Hindi in every state. As a result of this, a child from Gujarat can go anywhere in the country, do business and get acceptance, he said. He pointed out that Bahubhashi Anuvad Sarthi is being used for translations powered by advanced technology. By training this software, we will keep enriching it further, and in the coming days, the citizens of a country will be able to communicate in their own language through this, he said. He said that one cannot aspire for independence and self-respect if the language of communication is not one's own. The Hindi Shabd Sindhu, which started with 51,000 words, has now crossed 7 lakh words, and by 2029, it will become the largest dictionary among all languages in the world, Shah said. I assure you that by 2029, this Hindi Shabd Sindu will become the largest dictionary among all languages of the world. Through this dictionary, we have also made Hindi flexible. Many Hindi scholars insist that Hindi should be Sanskrit-rich. No one has any objection to this. But the empty space has to be filled with Indian languages. Only then will Hindi feel familiar to all the people of India. And Hindi can be made a spoken language only when it becomes flexible, he said. We have to make many such changes with time. Those who do not change with time become history. I believe that our language is history, it is the present as well as the future. And that is why the use of the experiment with Shabd Sindhu is to make Hindi very useful, flexible and useful for the masses, he said.
'Respect All Indian Languages': Amit Shah's Hindi Diwas Message From Gujarat Summit
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the 5th Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhasha Sammelan on Hindi Diwas 2025 in Gujrat's Gandhinagar.
AHMEDABAD: Despite massive cess collections meant to uplift construction workers, Gujarats welfare machinery has failed to deliver, says report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers. Only 32 per cent of released funds were utilised, while 13 of 31 welfare schemes were shut down, leaving thousands without pensions, housing support, or food assistance. Meanwhile, municipal bodies sat on crores of rupees in unaccounted cess, exposing a complete breakdown in accountability. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on the Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers for the period ending March 2022 was tabled in the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday. Even the funds released to the Board were grossly underutilized. Against Rs 2,544.81 crore sanctioned, only Rs 808.49 crore (32%) was spent between 2006 and 2023. Rs 782.03 crore on welfare schemes and a meager Rs 26.46 crore on administration. A staggering Rs 1,736.32 crore remained unspent as of March 2023, even as construction workers struggled for basic welfare. Welfare schemes themselves collapsed under mismanagement. Of the 31 schemes active between 2017-22, 13 schemes (42%) were either discontinued or put on hold. The Old Age Pension Scheme, a lifeline for aging workers, has been frozen since May 2019, leaving thousands without financial support. The Shramik Annapurna Yojana, which provides subsidized meals, operated in only nine districts out of Gujarats 33 during 2017-22. Even by June 2024, it covered just 19 districts, excluding nearly half the state. Housing schemes performed even worse. Under the Nanajee Deshmukh Awas Yojana and Housing Subsidy Scheme, only 37 workers received benefits in five years, with zero beneficiaries under the Housing Subsidy Scheme. Meanwhile, workers continued to live in precarious, unsafe conditions. Audit scrutiny revealed delays, unjustified rejections, and exclusion of eligible workers across multiple welfare schemes. In October 2020, the Board released Rs 52 crore to seven municipal corporations under the Corona Surakhsha Kavach Yojana to provide protective measures during the pandemic. But by March 2023, Rs 36 crore remained unaccounted for, and no steps were taken to recover Rs 12.50 crore of unutilized grants from three corporations. Cess collection itself was riddled with irregularities. Though the state revised cess rates in September 2013 to 1% of actual construction costs, auditors found non-compliance and delays across five districts. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation failed to deposit Rs 72.06 crore collected between March 2021 and March 2022. Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation had never separately accounted for cess collections since its inception in 2010. Following audit pressure, it finally deposited 27.52 crore for 2018-23, but only in September 2024. In 20 units across five districts, cess deposits were delayed by one to 16 months, violating rules. Meanwhile, inspections, though increasing from 799 in 2017 to 3,378 in 2022, were still inadequate. At least 2,146 registered establishments 15% of total were never inspected, allowing unsafe practices to flourish unchecked. Even flagship programs showed mixed results. The Dhanvantari Aarogya Rath Yojana, launched in 2013 to provide free on-site medical care, was widely appreciated. In a beneficiary survey, all 50 surveyed workers confirmed receiving treatment, and 35 of 42 received free prescribed medicines. However, this success stood in stark contrast to the widespread failure of other schemes. The audits final finding is damning: Gujarats construction welfare system has become a black hole of unspent funds, stalled schemes, and neglected workers. While nearly Rs 4,800 crore in cess collections flowed into government accounts over 17 years, only a fraction reached the workers it was meant to protect a glaring indictment of systemic apathy and mismanagement.
Pending works in Sanand will be completed in four years, says Amit Shah
AHMEDABAD, Sept 10: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday stressed that all pending works in the Sanand assembly segment of Gujarat will be completed in the next four years. Sanand is one of the seven assembly segments under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency represented by Shah. For the last six years, we have been trying to develop the Sanand assembly segment through a carefully planned design. I want to assure you that not a single village in Sanand will [] The post Pending works in Sanand will be completed in four years, says Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat scam complaints pile up, just Rs 7.5 crore recovered out of Rs 402 crore
AHMEDABAD: On Day 1 of the Gujarat Assembly session, Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani grilled the state government on scam complaints under the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Deposits Act-2003. The Home Department revealed 81 complaints were filed in the past two years, with a staggering Rs 402.21 crore trapped. To recover the money, the state seized and auctioned properties of two companies, but only Rs 7.53 crore has been returned to duped investors so far leaving a massive gap still unresolved. The monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly opened with a storm on Monday, as Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani dropped the bombshell on the state government. On Day 1, Mevani asked the Home Department about the fraudulent Ponzi schemes and scam companies that duped thousands of investors across Gujarat. In his query, Mevani demanded details on how many complaints were filed under the Gujarat Protection of Interest of Deposits Act, 2003, how much public money is stuck, and how much has actually been recovered. The governments reply shocked the House as 81 complaints were lodged in the past two years, trapping a staggering Rs 402.21 crore of investors' money. Despite this massive figure, action was taken against only two companies, with seized assets auctioned off. The recovery? A meagre Rs 7.53 crore returned to investors. This revelation comes against the backdrop of two mega scams that rocked Gujarat in the last two years. In 2024, Bhupendrasinh Zala, CEO of BZ Group, allegedly pulled off a Rs 6,000-crore Ponzi scam by luring over 14,000 investors with promises of double returns in three years and lucrative monthly payouts. Gandhinagar CID Crime teams raided multiple locations across Sabarkantha, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Rajasthan, uncovering transactions worth Rs 175 crore linked to the group. BZ Financial Services, at the scam's core, was found to be completely unauthorised. As the BZ scandal was still unfolding, 2025 brought another crypto-fueled scam, this time in Rajkot. A company named Blockora duped 8,000 investors, including 40 from Rajkot alone, siphoning off Rs 300 crore. The scheme promised daily returns of Rs 4,000 on an initial investment of Rs 4.25 lakh. Investors were pushed to buy a fake cryptocurrency called TABC, only for the companys founders and partners to vanish overnight.
Gujarat on red alert as IMD warns of torrential rains for two days
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is bracing for two days of torrential rains as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts. The state government has swung into action, deploying 12 NDRF and 20 SDRF teams across the state, while urging citizens to stay safe, especially during Ganesh Visarjan celebrations and the GPSC examination scheduled for tomorrow. As dark clouds loom over the state, Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi convened an emergency review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Gandhinagar, on Saturday, to assess preparedness. With heavy rainfall predicted on September 6 and 7, the IMD has sounded red alerts for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Surendranagar districts on Saturday, and in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, and Kutch for Sunday. Meanwhile, orange alerts have been issued in Patan, Gandhinagar, Morbi, Rajkot, and Botad. During the high-level meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Jayanti Ravi and Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey, district collectors were directed via video conference to stay on high alert. Joshi ordered round-the-clock presence of officials at district headquarters and directed them to monitor water levels in dams, release excess water when needed, and warn low-lying villages in advance. With large crowds expected for Ganesh Visarjan, the Chief Secretary emphasised strict crowd management near immersion sites. Ensure safe immersion by keeping people away from dangerous water bodies, Joshi instructed, highlighting the dual challenge of heavy rains and mass gatherings. The upcoming GPSC examination also came under focus, with orders issued to strengthen security and maintain vigilance at all exam centers. Meanwhile, NDRF and SDRF deployment will be reinforced in red-alert districts, and an additional NDRF team has been kept on standby in Vadodara. The review also saw coordination with multiple departments, including Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Energy, Health, Panchayat, Urban Development, Irrigation, and Roads, to ensure readiness for any emergency situation. So far, Gujarat has received 98% of its seasonal average rainfall, and the next 48 hours could prove crucial as authorities race to prevent floods, ensure public safety, and maintain order amid natures fury.
Gujarat on high alert as IMD predicts extreme rainfall; red alert in six districts
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is bracing for two days of torrential rains as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts. The state government has swung into action, deploying 12 NDRF and 20 SDRF teams across the state, while urging citizens to stay safe, especially during Ganesh Visarjan celebrations and the GPSC examination scheduled for tomorrow. Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi convened an emergency review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Gandhinagar on Saturday, to assess preparedness. With heavy rainfall predicted on September 6 and 7, the IMD has sounded red alerts today for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Surendranagar districts. Red alert has been issued for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, and Kutch for tomorrow. Meanwhile, orange alerts have been issued in Patan, Gandhinagar, Morbi, Rajkot, and Botad. During the high-level meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Jayanti Ravi and Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey, district collectors were directed via video conference to stay on high alert. Joshi ordered round-the-clock presence of officials at district headquarters and directed them to monitor water levels in dams, release excess water when needed, and warn low-lying villages in advance. With large crowds expected for Ganesh Visarjan, the Chief Secretary emphasised strict crowd management near immersion sites. Ensure safe and smooth immersion by keeping citizens away from dangerous water bodies, Joshi instructed, highlighting the dual challenge of heavy rains and mass gatherings. The upcoming GPSC examination also came under focus, with orders issued to strengthen security and maintain vigilance at all exam centres. Meanwhile, NDRF and SDRF deployment will be reinforced in red-alert districts, and an additional NDRF team has been kept on standby in Vadodara. The review also saw coordination with multiple departments, including Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Energy, Health, Panchayat, Urban Development, Irrigation, and Roads, to ensure readiness for any emergency situation. So far, Gujarat has received 98% of its seasonal average rainfall, and the next 48 hours could prove crucial as authorities race to prevent floods, ensure public safety, and maintain order amid natures fury.
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BJP vs BJP in Gujarat: Former BJP MLA targets MLA Raman Vora in land scam case
AHMEDABAD: A political storm has erupted in Gujarat after BJP MLA and former cabinet minister Raman Vora was accused of posing as a bogus farmer to purchase agricultural land. The controversy has snowballed with former BJP MLA Poonam Makwana and other complainants demanding criminal action, income-tax scrutiny, and cancellation of land deals allegedly involving Vora's family. The case, which spans Gandhinagar and Idar, has triggered multiple investigations, Mamlatdars notices, and charges of political pressure to suppress evidence. The land scam controversy surrounding the MLA has intensified, with accusations that he falsely posed as a farmer to acquire agricultural land in Gandhinagars Palaj and Idars Dawad villages. Makwana has taken the battle head-on, writing to the Gandhinagar Collector and demanding immediate action against Vora. He alleges that after purchasing the land in 2004 through partnerships, Vora manipulated records, used a bogus farmer certificate, and transferred the land in the names of his wife and sons before selling it off to his close associate Dinesh Patel for Rs 3.7 crore. Former BJP MLA Poonam Makwana has written to the Gandhinagar Collector demanding immediate action against Vora. Patel, in turn, swiftly converted the land to non-agricultural status and handed it back to Voras sons Bhushan and Suhag. Makwanas complaint has raised a bigger question whether these multi-crore deals were ever reflected in income-tax returns. He has demanded that authorities not only probe tax evasion but also take criminal action under Sections 63 and 84-C, and restore the land to the genuine farmer partners. Bank and cheque-related discrepancies have also been highlighted as suspicious financial manoeuvres. Adding fuel to the fire, Prakash Parmar of Ahmedabad filed another complaint before the Collector, presenting evidence that Vora was not a farmer in multiple survey lands in Dawad. He questioned why certain land deeds were reversed, demanding a full inquiry. The Collector has since directed the Idar Deputy Collector to investigate and submit a detailed report. Meanwhile, the probe has shifted gears in Idar, where the Mamlatdars office has issued a notice to Vora, summoning him on September 1 with proof of farmer status and land documents. Investigators claim Vora obtained a fraudulent farmer certificate under the false name Ramanlal Ishwarlal, using it to buy agricultural lands in Gandhinagar and Idar in the names of his wife, Kusumben, and sons. Lands acquired in the names of Voras family were later sold off to individuals in Virpur and Jadar. But when Jetpur Wadali resident Rajendra Patel sought evidence, the then Mamlatdar allegedly withheld documents under political pressure. Patels threat to commit suicide at the Mamlatdars office forced the Revenue Department to intervene, transferring the officer and reopening the case. Now, with fresh notices served and farmer records already being questioned as fake, Vora faces the real risk of punitive action under the Ganot Act in addition to criminal charges.
Shah launches Gujarat govts Dial 112 project; calls it Modis vision for internal security
GANDHINAGAR, Aug 31: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched the Gujarat governments Dial 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) and said it was an important step towards new age smart policing system as a unified number will be available for any kind of security related service. The Dial 112 service will free the people of Gujarat from different types of toll free numbers such as 100 for police, 108 for ambulance, 101 for fire, 181 for womens help, [] The post Shah launches Gujarat govts Dial 112 project; calls it Modis vision for internal security appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
AHMEDABAD: In a landmark verdict, the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court has convicted 14 accused, including former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya and senior Gujarat police officials, in the infamous 2018 Bitcoin extortion case. The case, which began with the kidnapping of Surat-based builder and cryptocurrency trader Shailesh Bhatt, revealed a murky nexus of politicians, police officers and middlemen in Gujarat. The Bitcoin scandal that shook Gujarat in 2018 has finally reached closure. The Ahmedabad City Sessions Court on Friday convicted 14 accused, among them former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya, then Amreli SP Jagdish Patel, and then LCB PI Anant Patel, holding them guilty of alleged kidnapping and extortion in the multi-crore Bitcoin racket. Following Shailesh Bhatts explosive complaint, CID Crime swung into action, arresting all the accused linked to the Bitcoin scandal. The trial unfolded in the ACB Special Court of the City Civil and Sessions Court, Ahmedabad, where the state lined up a staggering 172 witnesses against them. In stark contrast, the defence could produce just one witness, and despite 92 witnesses allegedly turning hostile, the court found the evidence and arguments strong enough to seal the fate of the accused. After nearly three months of intense final arguments, the gavel came down heavy as the court sentenced all 14 accused in the sensational scam to life imprisonment. The case traces back to Surat builder Shailesh Bhatt, who was allegedly trading in cryptocurrencies. In February 2018, Bhatt was lured under threats from individuals claiming to be from the CBI office in Gandhinagar. Instead of a warning, he was allegedly kidnapped from a petrol pump, beaten up, and dragged to a farmhouse by a team led by Amreli police officials using government vehicles. Once in custody of his abductors, Bhatt was allegedly coerced into parting with 176 Bitcoins worth around 9 crore, and was later forced to transfer more digital currency and cash. The demands spiralled from 12 crore transferred to Anant Patels account, to another 50 crore extortion attempt, and eventually a 32 crore ransom routed through the Angadia network. However, the Bitcoin extortion was not a one-way story. Bhatt himself carried a chequered past. He had earlier been accused of allegedly kidnapping BitConnect companys employees and recovering 2,021 Bitcoins, 11,000 Litecoins, and over 14 crore after allegedly losing 1.14 crore in crypto investments. His own complaint, however, blew the lid on a bigger scandal implicating police officers and politicians. As investigations deepened, CID Crime arrested 10 police personnel, including Anant Patel and Surat-based lawyer Ketan Patel. Interrogations revealed the names of then SP Jagdish Patel and former MLA Nalin Kotadiya. Kotadiya, accused of playing the fixer in the racket, went underground. A non-bailable warrant was issued before he was finally arrested from Maharashtras Dhulia and later granted conditional bail in 2019. The net widened further when CBI Inspector Sunil Nair was also accused of allegedly demanding a 10 crore bribe from Bhatt, threatening to unleash ED and Income Tax probes on him. Bhatt claimed he paid 4.6 crore after settling the demand at 5 crore. Now, after years of courtroom battles, the special court in Ahmedabad has brought closure. With 14 convicted, including top cops, a CBI officer, lawyers, and a former legislator, the verdict has laid bare the dangerous collusion of crime, cryptocurrency, and corridors of power in Gujarat.
Bihar cabinet approves industrial investment promotion package with free land, major incentives
PATNA: The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Package 2025 aimed at attracting industrial investment, particularly large private investments, in the state. The package includes provisions such as free land, financial incentives and other related concessions to create a conducive atmosphere for the states rapid industrial development. The package, which received cabinet approval at its meeting on Tuesday, is part of the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2016 and will remain in force until 31 March 2026 for investors. The decision regarding the promotion package is in line with the announcements made by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to grant concessions to industries. It also aligns with the governments commitment to create one crore employment opportunities in the state over the next five years, Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said. While giving details of the main features of the industrial promotion package at a post-cabinet meeting briefing, Chief Secretary Meena said that the state government has decided to transfer land free of cost to the investors willing to set up industries in Bihar. FREE LAND FOR INDUSTRIES Stating that the land will be transferred at a token amount of 1, Meena said that there are three types of schemes from which an investor can choose. If an investor makes an investment of 100 crore and creates 1,000 direct employment opportunities, the investor will get 10 acres of land from the government free of cost. Those willing to invest 1,000 crore will get 25 acres of land depending on the project, whereas if a Fortune 500 company invests in the state, it will get 10 acres of land, Meena said, while expressing confidence that the move will attract big-ticket investments to the state. Other investors, who do not opt for any of the above schemes, will also get land at a 50 per cent discount on BIADAs land rate for setting up industries in the state, said the Chief Secretary. He was accompanied by Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit, Industries Department Additional Chief Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh and Cabinet Secretariat Department Additional Chief Secretary S Siddharth during the press conference. Stating that investors will have to choose from any of the three financial incentive schemes, Chief Secretary Meena said that as per Option I, an investor who gets a term loan from financial institutions will receive interest subvention of up to 40 crore plus SGST reimbursement of up to 100 per cent. Option II will give investors net SGST reimbursement of up to 300 per cent of the approved project cost for 14 years, whereas Option III will enable investors to avail themselves of a 30 per cent capital subsidy of the total approved project cost. It is completely up to the investors as to which option they want to choose from, the Chief Secretary said, adding that the export incentive has been doubled from 20 lakh to 40 lakh per year, and the time frame has also been increased to 14 years to boost exports from the state. Talking about the employment generation incentive, he said that the government will provide 5,000 per month per employee besides giving support of up to 300 per cent on account of ESI and EPF expenditure. For other units, the government will provide 2,000 per month per employee as an employment generation incentive, plus 100 per cent support on ESI and EPF, Meena said, and added that 20,000 per worker will be given as a skill development incentive. The package also includes 25 per cent reimbursement of up to 1 crore for environmental protection incentive. Additionally, 20 per cent or a maximum amount of 6 lakh will be given as a renewable energy usage incentive. ACQUISITION OF 14,600 ACRES OF LAND APPROVED IN PAST ONE YEAR The state government has already taken an in-principle decision to set up an industrial area or park in every district of the state, he said, while stating that the government has approved the acquisition of 14,600 acres of land for 32 industrial areas/parks in the past one year, whereas BIADA has acquired 8,000 acres of land since its inception. All the industrial areas/parks have either been developed or are being developed near expressway highways or high-speed corridors, Meena said, emphasising that all these industrial areas are well-connected, having both road and rail connectivity. For example, industrial areas in Rohtas and Aurangabad are close to the Varanasi-Kolkata expressway, while the industrial area in Darbhanga is located near the Amas-Darbhanga expressway. Similarly, the industrial area in Purnea is located near the Patna-Purnea expressway, he added. In yet another significant decision, a Fin Tech City will be developed adjacent to a plot of the Multi-Modal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Fatuha circle in Patna district, Chief Secretary said, adding that the Fin Tech City will be developed on the lines of GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The cabinet sanctioned 408.81 crore for the acquisition of 242 acres of land for the Fin Tech City. The Infrastructure Development Authority, Patna, will acquire the land. The development of Fin Tech City will help in bringing containerised cargo directly to Patna from ports, and from Patna, it will be further exported to other countries, Meena said. LAND ACQUISITION FOR EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIAL AREA In order to expand the industrial area in different districts, the Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA), Patna, will acquire a total of 1,927.5 acres of land worth 797.1 crore in six districts: Bhojpur, Sheikhpura, Rohtas, Sheohar, Darbhanga and Purnea. The district-wise break-up of land acquisition is as follows: 249.48 acres of land will be acquired at a cost of 52.62 crore in Bhojpur district; 250.06 acres of land at 42.16 crore in Sheikhpura; 492.85 acres of land at 154.07 crore in Rohtas; 270.01 acres of land at 105.27 crore in Sheohar; 385.45 acres of land at 376.07 crore in Darbhanga; and 279.65 acres of land at 66.91 crore in Purnea district. A total of 26 decisions, including the industrial investment promotion package, were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The Mumbai CentralGandhinagar Vande Bharat Express, India's third Vande Bharat train, now includes Navsari as an additional stop, increasing its halts to eight. Covering 521 km in 6 hours and 30 minutes, the train operates six days a week, excluding Wednesday. Passengers can choose between AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car options for a comfortable journey.
PM Modi on 2-day visit to Gujarat from August 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and initiate projects worth Rs 5,477 crore during his two-day visit to Gujarat, starting August 25. The projects span urban development, water supply, and transportation infrastructure across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Mehsana. On August 26, he will inaugurate Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle production line.
PM Modi on two-day Gujarat visit from August 25
Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of road projects worth Rs 307 crore during his two-day Gujarat visit on August 25-26, covering Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Mehsana districts. The projects, under the states Roads and Buildings Department, are aimed at strengthening connectivity, easing traffic, and boosting industrial growth in North Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
AHMEDABAD: The state capital Gandhinagar is on edge as the Gujarat ex-Army Union continue their protest 'Operation Reservation' for the 23rd day on Tuesday. Ex-servicemen put forth their demand for job quota, land allotment, arms license approval, salary protection, and pending benefits. The Maharelli call turned tense after police detained over 50 protesters, triggering road blockades, clashes, and mass detentions. The agitation has now snowballed into a showdown, with ex-soldiers vowing to continue their protest until their arrested leaders, including union president Jitendra Nimawat, are freed. Our agitation will not stop until our leader is free, declared ex-servicemen, accusing police of treating decorated soldiers like terrorists. What began as a peaceful sit-in at the Sector-6 Satyagraha Camp turned stormy when police detained over 50 ex-servicemen ahead of a proposed Sainik Adhikari Maharelli, citing lack of permission to protest. The crackdown only inflamed tempers. By afternoon, around 1,500 agitated ex-army personnel descended on Ahmedabad, blocking the busy stretch from Airport Circle to Indira Bridge. Chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram, they sat on the road, creating a two-kilometer-long traffic jam that stranded fliers on their way to the airport. Sensing the scale of the unrest, senior police officers, including JCP and DCP-level officials, rushed to the spot. Clashes broke out as ex-servicemen tried to free their detained comrades, forcing police to soften their stance. All detainees were eventually released after negotiations, and the blockade was lifted. But the agitation did not end there. Protesters regrouped, marching toward the Army Hospital for food before setting off for the Gandhinagar Secretariat. Anticipating another escalation, police locked the hospital gates and mounted intensive checks on vehicles and buses entering Gandhinagar. More detentions followed, deepening the standoff. Congress leader Manish Doshi slammed the crackdown as a disgrace for Gujarat, pointing out that even widows of martyrs had been detained. These soldiers are not asking for new rules, only enforcement of what exists. Denying them is shameful, he said, appealing to citizens and political parties to stand with the veterans. Backing the stir, MLA Umesh Makwana called Gujarat the only state where ex-servicemen get no job reservation, no dedicated ministry, and no compensation of Rs 1 crore to martyrs families as in other states. He warned that the governments apathy was eroding the soldiers patience.
Kshatriya history sparks royal row: Gujarat BJP leaders caste, slavery remark triggers walkout
AHMEDABAD: A lecture on Kshatriya history at a college in Mansa, Gandhinagar, on 11 August allegedly turned into a public showdown when Gujarat BJP leader Jairajsinh Parmars comments linking superstition and caste bias to Indias colonial subjugation provoked a heated rebuttal from Mansa States royal, Yograjsinh Raol, leading to his walkout. BJP co-spokesperson and North Gujarat Rajput Community president Jairajsinh Parmar found himself at the centre of a controversy after delivering the address at Mansa College in Mehsana district. Speaking as the main guest at a programme on certificate courses, Parmar said the caste system had tasked Kshatriyas with protecting society, but superstition, prejudice and caste discrimination had weakened the community, paving the way for British rule. Parmars sweeping historical account, covering the era from Afghanistan to the British Raj, claimed that Kshatriyas bore the sole burden of defending the nation while other communities were busy with their own work, eventually reducing Kshatriya numbers and leaving India vulnerable to foreign rule. These comments immediately drew fire from Rajvi Yograjsinh Raol, the royal of Mansa State and a fellow invitee, who interrupted Parmar mid-speech, accusing him of spreading falsehoods about the Kshatriya community. What followed was a tense five-minute verbal clash in front of the audience. As the argument escalated over whether Kshatriyas had ever been enslaved, Raol dismissed Parmars claims and walked out of the event. Witnesses quickly stepped in to prevent further escalation and restore calm. Later, speaking to the media, Parmar stood by his remarks, asserting that history was being misrepresented and that his references to Brahmins, Vaishyas, Shudras and Kshatriyas were part of an academic explanation, not an attack on any community.
UCC on fast track in Gujarat: Report due soon, BJP eyes pre-local poll push
AHMEDABAD: In a politically significant move, the Gujarat government has accelerated efforts to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State. A high-level committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai met with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar on August 5, signalling fast-track action on the draft law. The committee, tasked with assessing the feasibility and framework of a Common Civil Code for Gujarat, is now in its final phase, with Desai confirming that the report will be ready within a month, ruling out the need for any extension. Speculation is rife that the UCC could be notified ahead of the upcoming municipal corporation elections, giving the BJP government a potential ideological edge in the urban polls. A crucial meeting was held in Gandhinagar today between UCC Committee Chairperson Justice (Retd) Ranjana Desai and committee members with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi. Speaking after the meeting, Justice Desai said, We met the Governor on August 4 and the Chief Minister on August 5 in a formal interaction. While the exact date for submitting the report is yet to be fixed, it is likely to be submitted this month. As of now, there seems to be no need for an extension. Justice Ranjana Desai has stated that there is no need for an extension now. In light of this, sources indicate that the Gujarat government is likely to implement the Uniform Civil Code soon after receiving the committees report, possibly ahead of the local body elections slated for later this year or early next year. The UCC committee, originally tasked with submitting its report within 45 days, has overshot the deadline due to an unexpectedly high volume of public responses. Gujarat government spokesperson and cabinet minister Hrishikesh Patel attributed the delay to the scale of submissions received. This was a formal meeting. The report will be submitted to the Chief Minister in about a month or slightly more, Patel said. We received nearly 1.5 lakh submissions. Although the government had set a 45-day deadline, it took longer to collect inputs from various communities and social groups, and to compile their views and conclusions. Notably, the government had invited objections and suggestions from individuals and organisations on the proposed UCC. In a major push on the final day of the process, April 15, as many as 96,165 objections were submitted in Gandhinagar by Muslim community leaders from South Gujarat.
A new district flood severity index factors in flood impact on people
Researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar have come up with a District Flood Severity Index (DFSI) that takes into account the mean duration in days of all flooding events in a district, percentage of area that is historically flooded, total number of deaths, number of people injured, and the population in the district
Explore unparallel beauty, culture of J&K: CM to travellers at TTF Ahmedabad
Excelsior Correspondent GANDHINAGAR (GUJARAT), July 31: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today extended a warm invitation to travellers from across the country to explore the unparalleled beauty, rich culture and warm hospitality of Jammu & Kashmir. He was speaking at the inaugural of the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Highlighting Jammu & Kashmirs immense tourism potential, the Chief Minister said the region continues to offer diverse experiences [] The post Explore unparallel beauty, culture of J&K: CM to travellers at TTF Ahmedabad appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
CM Omar Promotes Kashmir Tourism in Gujarat, Addresses Impact of Pahalgam Attack
AHMEDABAD, JULY 31: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during his two-day visit to Gujarat for the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) in Gandhinagar, made a strong pitch to revive and boost tourism in the Union Territory, acknowledging the temporary setback caused by the tragic Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. Speaking to reporters [] The post CM Omar Promotes Kashmir Tourism in Gujarat, Addresses Impact of Pahalgam Attack appeared first on Northlines .
CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Travel And Tourism Fair, Ahmedabad
CM invites travellers to explore Kashmir, highlights J&Ks year-round attractions GANDHINAGAR (GUJARAT), Jul 31: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today extended a warm invitation to travellers from across the country to explore the unparalleled beauty, rich culture and warm hospitality of Jammu & Kashmir. He was speaking at the inaugural of the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Highlighting Jammu & Kashmirs immense tourism potential, the Chief Minister [] The post CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Travel And Tourism Fair, Ahmedabad appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
19 Crores Robbed In 102 Days: Gujarat Doctor's 'Digital Arrest' Nightmare
A senior woman doctor in Gujarat's Gandhinagar was kept under 'digital arrest' for over three months, forced to break fixed deposits, take loans, and blackmailed into paying more than Rs 19 crore to fraudsters, police have found
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
Retired forest official from Gujarat's Rajkot duped of Rs 8.93 lakh in digital arrest scam
AHMEDABAD: In a cyber fraud mirroring the recent Rs 19 crore scam in Gandhinagar, a retired forest head clerk from Gujarats Rajkot, has fallen prey to a digital arrest con and lost Rs 8.93 lakh. Posing as officials from TRAI and Maharashtra Cyber Crime, the scammers extorted money from the elderly man by threatening him with criminal charges and arrest. The victim, a former Forest Head Clerk at Bahumali Bhavan, lives near Patidar Chowk in Rajkot. On November 28, 2024, he received a call from a woman identifying herself as Diya Sharma from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). She claimed that two Jio SIM cards linked to his number were being misused and needed to be deactivated immediately. Minutes later, a second call came, this time from someone posing as Inspector Mohit Handa from the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell. The caller alleged that an HDFC Bank account had been opened using the victims Aadhaar-linked SIM, through which Rs 68 lakh had been fraudulently transacted. The scammer claimed the money belonged to a woman who had since died by suicide and that an arrest warrant had been issued against the retired clerk. As the victim hesitated, the imposter escalated the pressure. Through a video call, he showed a man in police uniform seated at what appeared to be a police station and claimed the only way to avoid arrest was to provide a security bond of Rs 2 lakh. Terrified, the retired official agreed to cooperate. The accused then shared a WhatsApp link during the video call. Following the instructions, the victim unknowingly transferred Rs 8.93 lakh via UPI in multiple transactions to different bank accounts. Realising he had been duped, the victim immediately contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930 and filed a complaint with the Rajkot City Cyber Crime Police Station. The police have launched an investigation using phone numbers, video call metadata, and other digital traces. The FIR names multiple unknown account holders under charges of cheating and breach of trust. Investigators believe the fraud is linked to a larger inter-state racket exploiting fear and authority to extort money under the guise of digital arrests. Recently, a woman doctor in Gujarat was digitally trapped and defrauded of Rs 19 crore by cybercriminals who pressured her over months with threats and surveillance. The fraudsters made her transfer money into 35 accounts, even taking a loan against her gold. Realising the scam too late, she alerted her family, prompting a CID Cyber Crime probe on July 16. One suspect has been arrested in Surat; a massive manhunt is on for the rest of the syndicate. With similar high-stake scams emerging across Gujarat, police have issued fresh advisories urging citizens to remain vigilant against fake officials and to never share sensitive information or make payments under threat.
Gujarat Doctor Duped Of Rs 19 Crore In 'Digital Arrest' Scam, One Arrested
A Gandhinagar doctor was duped of Rs 19 crore over three months by fraudsters posing as officials who trapped her in a 'digital arrest' scam, a report has claimed.
J&K Housing Board takes over Rotary Club premises in Gandhi Nagar
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 27: Jammu and Kashmir Govt has declined extension of lease to Rotary Club Jammu for alleged violations of the terms & conditions of the lease granted in 1980s. Following the decision, the J&K Housing Board has taken over the Rotary Club premises, situated at A/D Block Green Belt Park Gandhinagar, Jammu. The Club was allotted 3000 sft land in Green Belt area in 1980s. However, the club, not only constructed the building on excess 604.50 sft [] The post J&K Housing Board takes over Rotary Club premises in Gandhi Nagar appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Mughal period saw violence; Britain did not recognise suffering inflicted on colonies: Michel Danino
Michel Danino, IIT Gandhinagar Guest Professor and head of NCERTs Social Science textbook team, on historical framing in the new class seven and eight textbooks, media criticism, and debates over representation
Bengaluru's 'Empire Kababs' Flagged Unsafe By Food Safety Body
Bengaluru's popular Empire restaurant chain has landed in soup after a lab report from the State Food Laboratory, Public Health Institute, declared that chicken kebabs served at its Gandhinagar outlet were unsafe for human consumption.
Two dead, several injured as drunk driver mows down pedestrians in Gujarats Gandhinagar
AHMEDABAD: A speeding car ploughed into pedestrians and motorists on the service road in Gandhinagars Randesan area early Friday morning, leaving two people dead and several others critically injured. The driver, Hitesh Patel, was found heavily intoxicated and has been taken into police custody. According to officials, the accident occurred around morning rush hour when a car (registration number GJ18 EE 7887), driven recklessly by Patel, veered out of control and rammed into bystanders and vehicles along the service road. One of the deceased is a woman, while several others sustained serious injuries. Police confirmed that Hitesh Patel, who also owns the vehicle, was in an inebriated state and unable to even stand when apprehended. Eyewitness Elaben Patel said, The car crashed right in front of me. A man died on the spot. The driver was so drunk he couldnt keep his balance. The accused in police custody Among the injured was Mayur Joshi, whose father, Rahul Joshi, recounted, Mayur had just filled petrol and left for work when the car hit from behind. His condition was initially very bad. As news of the crash spread, Gandhinagar Mayor rushed to the scene and later confirmed, By the time I arrived, two had died. Two more victims are battling for their lives in the hospital. Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja said, Preliminary investigation and eyewitness accounts confirm the driver was under the influence of alcohol. CCTV footage and local statements are being examined. MoS (Home) Harsh Sanghavi said, As soon as I received information about the incident, I spoke to the Range IG and Gandhinagar SP. I have directed them to form a joint team for a thorough investigation and take strict action at the earliest. The police have launched a full-fledged investigation and sealed off the area for forensic examination. The tragedy has sparked fresh outrage over the rising cases of reckless driving in Gujarat's capital.
Gujarat records 54 pc seasonal rainfall
Gandhinagar: The southwest monsoon made an early entry into Gujarat this year, a week ahead of schedule. However, rainfall distribution across the state has been highly uneven over the past month and a half. In the last 24 hours alone, 90 talukas recorded rainfall, with the highest recorded in Jalalpore (Navsari district) at 5.24 inches. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Savy Infra Logistics sets SME IPO price band at Rs 114-120/share, public issue to open on Jul 21
NEW DELHI, July 20:Gandhinagar-based EPC player Savy Infra & Logistics on Sunday said it has fixed the price band at Rs 114-120 per equity share for its Rs 70 crore initial public offer, which will open for public subscription on July 21. The initial public offering (IPO) will conclude on July 23, and the companys shares will be listed on the NSE Emerge, Savy Infra & Logistics said in a statement. The IPO is entirely a fresh issue of [] The post Savy Infra Logistics sets SME IPO price band at Rs 114-120/share, public issue to open on Jul 21 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Gujarat CMO, secretariat get bomb threat; turns out to be hoax
Gujarat's Chief Minister's Office and state secretariat in Gandhinagar received a bomb threat via email. Authorities conducted a thorough search of the premises. The search included the bomb detection and disposal squad. Police determined the threat was a hoax. An FIR has been registered against the unidentified sender. Several schools and courts in Gujarat also received similar hoax threats recently.
Autorickshaw driver held for throwing acid on Home Guard in Gandhinagar
The woman home guard had reprimanded him about the improperly parked autorickshaw
Rickshaw driver attacks female home guard with acid in Gujarat; arrested
AHMEDABAD: In a chilling act of revenge, a rickshaw driver attacked a female home guard jawan with acid during traffic duty in Chhatral village of Kalol taluka of Gujarat on the morning of July 18. The woman sustained burns on her hand, shoulder, and neck and was rushed to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital where she is undergoing treatment. The accused, who initially fled the scene, has been arrested. The shocking incident unfolded under the Chhatral overbridge, where home guard personnel were deployed for routine traffic regulation. Trouble erupted when a female jawan asked a rickshaw driver to properly align his vehicle, which was parked sideways obstructing traffic. Enraged by the minor instruction, the rickshaw driver picked up a quarrel with her. Before the altercation could escalate, fellow jawans intervened, and the man was escorted to the local police station. After being counselled, he was let off but the confrontation didnt end there. Consumed by rage and humiliation, the man allegedly returned home, procured acid, and came back to the Chhatral overbridge within half an hour. Without warning, he approached the same female home guard and hurled acid at her. As she screamed and fled in panic, nearby policemen rushed to her aid and immediately shifted her to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. Kalol Division DySP P.D. Manwar confirmed the attack, stating, The accused rickshaw driver, infuriated after being told to park properly, went home, brought acid, and threw it at the woman on duty. She has sustained injuries and is under treatment. The accused has been arrested, and a case has been registered. Police said the man Ashok s/o Ramesh Rawat is now in custody and further investigation is underway. The attack has sparked outrage, with calls for stricter action against acid-related crimes, especially targeting public servants on duty.
Gujarat Man Killed After 'Drunk' Driver Rams Speeding BMW Into Scooter | Video
A middle-aged scooter rider in Gandhinagar was killed when a BMW, driven by an allegedly intoxicated individual, struck him.
Patidar power play: BJP's Amrutiya challenges AAP's Italia in Gujarat's Morbi
AHMEDABAD: BJPs Kanti Amrutia and AAPs Gopal Italia, both from Gujarat's Patidar community, have locked horns in a bizarre showdown. What began as political posturing over public agitations in Morbi has now snowballed into a high voltage drama, replete with resignations, convoys, viral videos, and taunts all under the shadow of Gujarats prized Patidar vote bank. The political slugfest between BJP MLA from Morbi, Kanti Amrutia, and AAPs Gopal Italia, MLA from Visavadar, hit fever pitch on Monday as Amrutia stormed into Gandhinagar with a dramatic 100 vehicle convoy, vowing to resign if AAPs Italia showed up; he did not. This wasnt just a stunt. It was a calculated reply to what Amrutia calls threats of Visavadarwali, a taunt hurled during recent agitations in Morbi, allegedly by AAP workers to provoke unrest and pressure the administration. The jibe referenced Italias bypoll win in Visavadar, suggesting a repeat in Morbi, a challenge BJPs MLA Amrutia took personally. Amrutia publicly dared Italia to contest from Morbi. If Italia wins, Amrutia pledged to resign and even promised a Rs 2 crore reward. Italia, not one to back down, accepted via a viral video. Thus was born Gujarats most theatrical political showdown of the season. Ive come with my resignation papers, Amrutia declared, waiting in the Assembly complex till 12:15 pm. If Gopalbhai had the courage, he shouldve come. But this is not development politics, this is misleading the Patidar youth with drama and lies. He said. He didnt stop there. Italia is dividing the Patidar community. Ive come to stop such people. Interestingly, top BJP leaders distanced themselves from the brawl. Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary said, This isnt our concern focus should be on public service. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel added, This isnt challenge politics. Gujarat only knows development politics. Yet beneath the development slogan lies a clear truth: the BJP and AAP are both fiercely courting Patidar voters and internal rivalries, public stunts, and online warfare are now fair play in this high stakes tug of war.
Pharma distributor arrested in Hyderabad for selling counterfeit anti-epileptic drugs
The seizure was made during a raid conducted on July 4 on the premises of Arvind Pharma Distributors, located in the SBI Staff Colony, Gandhinagar
DCA arrests one for selling fake epilepsy medication in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) on Monday arrested one person for allegedly selling counterfeit epilepsy medication in Hyderabad. Manish Kumar, a partner and designated competent person of Arvind Pharma Distributors, was apprehended in SBI Staff Colony, Gandhinagar. He is accused of selling spurious Levipil 500 tablets, an anti-epileptic drug falsely labelled as manufactured Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
AHMEDABAD: As heavy rains lash Gujarat, serious concerns are rising over the crumbling road infrastructure across major cities. From pothole-ridden stretches to waterlogged highways, commuters are facing daily ordeals. Notably, the state government has itself admitted that 83 km of National Highways and 243 bridges have been damaged this monsoon. Amid mounting complaints flooding social media, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a high-level review meeting today to address the alarming state of roads. While assuring that there is no shortage of funds, the CM stressed the urgent need for durable and sustainable repair work, raising questions over the existing quality and accountability in road construction. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel ordered urgent, war-footing repairs across the states monsoon-hit infrastructure. Reviewing the alarming condition of roads from rural interiors to urban centres and critical national highways, the CM held a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar, demanding immediate restoration without waiting for the rains to stop. Calling roads the main artery of development and daily life, Patel directed that not even a single dry day or holiday be wasted. Repairs must continue without pause, he said, urging swift patchwork, quality control, and accountability, especially for damage under defect liability. Contractors responsible for poor work must be held liable, he emphasised. With 243 bridges affected and 83 km of National Highways damaged 25 km of which still await repair, the CM asked for seamless coordination between NHAI, Panchayats, Municipal Bodies, and the Road Construction Department. Civic commissioners joined via video conference, as Patel pressed for immediate solutions to urban problems like waterlogging, broken underbridges, and battered drains along with long-term planning. A 24x7 control room at Nirman Bhavan has been activated to track field progress and fast track emergency responses. Patel reiterated the state governments full commitment to ensure citizens do not suffer due to bureaucratic delays or substandard repairs, warning departments to act fast and deliver on public expectations.
Foreign Liquor Worth Rs 1.19 Crore Seized In Gujarat: Cops
Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) from Gandhinagar seized foreign liquor worth Rs 1.19 crore during a raid in Chotila taluka of Surendranagar.
Underage Sarpanch elected in Gujarat: 19-year-old's victory exposes election blunder
AHMEDABAD: In a glaring instance of administrative negligence, the Gujarat State Election Commission is under fire after a 19-year-old girl was allegedly elected as Sarpanch in Gilosan village, Mehsana district, a clear violation of the minimum age requirement of 21 years. The irregularity came to light not during the election process, but while preparing a list of young Sarpanches to be felicitated by the Chief Minister at an upcoming event in Gandhinagar, said a source. During the verification of documents, officials from the district panchayat discovered a mismatch in the age of the newly elected Sarpanch, Afrozbanu Sipai. Her Aadhaar card shows a birth date of 8 December 2004, while her school leaving certificate mentions 7 January 2005, making her just 19 years and 8 months old, and therefore ineligible to contest. Shockingly, this discrepancy allegedly went completely unnoticed during the election process. It was only when the school leaving certificate was requested for the felicitation ceremony that officials realised the violation. The incident has triggered outrage and raised serious questions about the due diligence of election officials and returning officers responsible for verifying eligibility. As the controversy escalated, Mehsanas Provincial Officer Urvish Waland confirmed the breach. The Taluka Development Officer has submitted a report stating that the elected Sarpanch of Gilosan Gram Panchayat is under 21 years of age. At the time of nomination, the candidate declared her age as 21, based on which the Returning Officer accepted her form and allowed the election to proceed. She was subsequently declared the winner, said Waland. Only the age is to be mentioned in the nomination form, and the candidate had written that she had completed 21 years. We have now forwarded the entire report to the District Collector and also sent all relevant details to the State Election Commission. The final decision on the matter will be taken by the Commission, he added. Despite being underage, Parmar Afrozbanu has allegedly refused to step down. Nowhere in the form was I asked to write my date of birth, only my age. So, I wrote 21, she argued, defending her action. The administration is now mulling over forcing her resignation as per rules, but the blunder has already exposed a gaping hole in the election vetting process. The incident has not only embarrassed the local administration ahead of the CMs event but also put a spotlight on the systemic lapses allegedly plaguing grassroots electoral procedures.
