By PTI
KUTCH: As the Pakistan bordering Kutch district of Gujarat goes to polls subsequent month, drug hauls value 1000’s of crores of rupees, water disaster on this arid area and sporadic incidents of communal clashes have turn into main election points within the space.
Last yr, in a significant drug haul, round 3,000 kg of heroin value almost Rs 21,000 crore was seized on the Mundra Port in Kutch, the nation’s largest district which shares land and marine border with Pakistan.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been attempting to mission it as nationwide safety being in secure fingers with the saffron camp in energy, the opposition Congress has questioned the failure of the state and the Centre from stopping drug trafficking.
There have additionally been quite a few different instances of medicine seizure in Kutch within the current previous.
“The question is not about how much was seized, but how this (heroin seized last year) consignment came under the radar. What about other such consignments which might have passed without being noticed? The people of the state want to know what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents,” state Congress chief and spokesperson Lalit Vasoya instructed PTI.
The Congress, in its marketing campaign, particularly within the bordering areas, has been harping on the problem of drug menace within the state and the Kutch area getting used as a secure passage by drug traffickers.
Refuting the allegations as baseless, BJP’s Kutch district media in-charge Satvik Gadhvi mentioned the drug seizure is an instance of the truth that his celebration, in contrast to the Congress, by no means compromises on the problem of nationwide safety.
“For the BJP, the nation comes first, unlike the Congress for which the vote bank is first and foremost. The seizure proves that the nation and the state are safe,” he mentioned.
Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will probably be held on December 1 and 5.
Kutch, which works to polls within the first section on December 1, has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar, all bordering Pakistan, and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham.
In 2017, the BJP received 4 of those seats, whereas the Congress bagged the minority-influenced Abdasa together with the Rapar constituency.
But, the MLA from Abdasa converted to the saffron camp in 2020 and later received the seat on the BJP’s ticket.
As per the 2011 census information, Kutch had 76.89 per cent Hindus and 21.14 per cent Muslims, with Abdasa and Bhuj Assembly constituencies having a substantial minority inhabitants.
While Gujarat had been in information for the post-2002 Godhra riots, Kutch, which was reeling below the impact of the 2001 earthquake, remained insulated from communal politics till a couple of years again.
But it’s not the case this time as there was a simmering communal divide in varied elements of Kutch over a number of points, together with sporadic incidents of such violence reported within the final two years.
In August this yr, a homicide led to a communal conflict in Madhapur village in Kutch.
In January final yr, there was a conflict between members of two communities in Kidana village throughout a rally for assortment of funds for the Ram temple development.
“Kutch has always been peaceful despite whatever is happening in other parts of the state. But the situation is not the same now. There is an atmosphere of mistrust among communities, and political parties are trying to gain from it,” 68-year-old fruit vendor in Bhuj city Parwez Sheikh claimed.
But, Kutch BJP district unit chief Ghanshyam Thakkar instructed PTI that his celebration has maintained communal concord within the space.
“The Congress and the AIMIM are trying to disturb the communal harmony of the area,” he claimed.
“We will never allow this to happen,” he added.
According to district Congress leaders, the entry of latest gamers, just like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has additional made the ballot struggle fascinating within the area, with minorities now having choices apart from the grand outdated celebration.
The AAP is contesting in all of the six seats, whereas the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is contesting in two seats.
Some native BJP leaders, on situation of anonymity, claimed the saffron camp will achieve from the AAP and AIMIM contesting the polls.
“In Bhuj and Abdasa, if the AIMIM and AAP respectively manage to cut even 15,000 opposition votes, it would benefit us,” a BJP chief mentioned.
The opposition Congress this time hopes to make a clear sweep towards the BJP within the district.
Kutch district Congress President Yajuvendra Jadeja mentioned the BJP is aware of that 27 years of anti-incumbency is taking a heavy toll on it, and they’re utilizing every part at their disposal to win the elections.
“From using the AIMIM and the AAP, they are doing everything to divide the opposition. But it won’t yield any results. These two parties are just B-teams of the BJP,” he claimed.
However, the AAP and the AIMIM district management have dubbed such allegations as “baseless”.
“We are not the B-team of any party. The truth is that neither the BJP nor the Congress has done anything for the Muslim community of Gujarat,” AIMIM candidate from Bhuj Sakil Sama mentioned.
Another key problem within the area is the water disaster, particularly getting provide from the Narmada river.
The Kutch Branch Canal is a department of the Narmada Main Canal (NMC), which originates at Kevadia and is meant to supply water to the Mandvi space.
In different areas, resembling Abdasa and Bhuj, the work for a pipeline for the canal connecting it with the NMC is but to start out, thus leaving all the area craving for water.
Locals rely upon deep borewells, rainwater or authorities tankers for water provide within the area.
The native BJP unit agreed that “water crisis” is a significant problem, however blamed the Narmada Bachao Andolan for the fixed delay within the Sardar Sarovar Project.
“The entire project has been delayed due to the Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are confident that once the elections are over, the work will start on a war footing to set up the infrastructure to bring in regular water supply in the region,” BJP MLA from Abdasa Pradhyuman Sinh Jadeja instructed PTI.
On the opposite hand, the Congress claims water disaster within the area is the most important instance of the BJP’s administrative and political failure.
“Even after 27 years, if you have to blame others for failing to provide water in the region, then BJP leaders should quit politics and sit back at home. This is the biggest example of BJP’s administrative failure,” Yajuvendra Jadeja mentioned.
Senior AAP chief Ankita Gor mentioned if voted to energy, the celebration would guarantee consuming water services in every family of the area.
KUTCH: As the Pakistan bordering Kutch district of Gujarat goes to polls subsequent month, drug hauls value 1000’s of crores of rupees, water disaster on this arid area and sporadic incidents of communal clashes have turn into main election points within the space.
Last yr, in a significant drug haul, round 3,000 kg of heroin value almost Rs 21,000 crore was seized on the Mundra Port in Kutch, the nation’s largest district which shares land and marine border with Pakistan.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been attempting to mission it as nationwide safety being in secure fingers with the saffron camp in energy, the opposition Congress has questioned the failure of the state and the Centre from stopping drug trafficking.
There have additionally been quite a few different instances of medicine seizure in Kutch within the current previous.
“The question is not about how much was seized, but how this (heroin seized last year) consignment came under the radar. What about other such consignments which might have passed without being noticed? The people of the state want to know what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents,” state Congress chief and spokesperson Lalit Vasoya instructed PTI.
The Congress, in its marketing campaign, particularly within the bordering areas, has been harping on the problem of drug menace within the state and the Kutch area getting used as a secure passage by drug traffickers.
Refuting the allegations as baseless, BJP’s Kutch district media in-charge Satvik Gadhvi mentioned the drug seizure is an instance of the truth that his celebration, in contrast to the Congress, by no means compromises on the problem of nationwide safety.
“For the BJP, the nation comes first, unlike the Congress for which the vote bank is first and foremost. The seizure proves that the nation and the state are safe,” he mentioned.
Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will probably be held on December 1 and 5.
Kutch, which works to polls within the first section on December 1, has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar, all bordering Pakistan, and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham.
In 2017, the BJP received 4 of those seats, whereas the Congress bagged the minority-influenced Abdasa together with the Rapar constituency.
But, the MLA from Abdasa converted to the saffron camp in 2020 and later received the seat on the BJP’s ticket.
As per the 2011 census information, Kutch had 76.89 per cent Hindus and 21.14 per cent Muslims, with Abdasa and Bhuj Assembly constituencies having a substantial minority inhabitants.
While Gujarat had been in information for the post-2002 Godhra riots, Kutch, which was reeling below the impact of the 2001 earthquake, remained insulated from communal politics till a couple of years again.
But it’s not the case this time as there was a simmering communal divide in varied elements of Kutch over a number of points, together with sporadic incidents of such violence reported within the final two years.
In August this yr, a homicide led to a communal conflict in Madhapur village in Kutch.
In January final yr, there was a conflict between members of two communities in Kidana village throughout a rally for assortment of funds for the Ram temple development.
“Kutch has always been peaceful despite whatever is happening in other parts of the state. But the situation is not the same now. There is an atmosphere of mistrust among communities, and political parties are trying to gain from it,” 68-year-old fruit vendor in Bhuj city Parwez Sheikh claimed.
But, Kutch BJP district unit chief Ghanshyam Thakkar instructed PTI that his celebration has maintained communal concord within the space.
“The Congress and the AIMIM are trying to disturb the communal harmony of the area,” he claimed.
“We will never allow this to happen,” he added.
According to district Congress leaders, the entry of latest gamers, just like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has additional made the ballot struggle fascinating within the area, with minorities now having choices apart from the grand outdated celebration.
The AAP is contesting in all of the six seats, whereas the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is contesting in two seats.
Some native BJP leaders, on situation of anonymity, claimed the saffron camp will achieve from the AAP and AIMIM contesting the polls.
“In Bhuj and Abdasa, if the AIMIM and AAP respectively manage to cut even 15,000 opposition votes, it would benefit us,” a BJP chief mentioned.
The opposition Congress this time hopes to make a clear sweep towards the BJP within the district.
Kutch district Congress President Yajuvendra Jadeja mentioned the BJP is aware of that 27 years of anti-incumbency is taking a heavy toll on it, and they’re utilizing every part at their disposal to win the elections.
“From using the AIMIM and the AAP, they are doing everything to divide the opposition. But it won’t yield any results. These two parties are just B-teams of the BJP,” he claimed.
However, the AAP and the AIMIM district management have dubbed such allegations as “baseless”.
“We are not the B-team of any party. The truth is that neither the BJP nor the Congress has done anything for the Muslim community of Gujarat,” AIMIM candidate from Bhuj Sakil Sama mentioned.
Another key problem within the area is the water disaster, particularly getting provide from the Narmada river.
The Kutch Branch Canal is a department of the Narmada Main Canal (NMC), which originates at Kevadia and is meant to supply water to the Mandvi space.
In different areas, resembling Abdasa and Bhuj, the work for a pipeline for the canal connecting it with the NMC is but to start out, thus leaving all the area craving for water.
Locals rely upon deep borewells, rainwater or authorities tankers for water provide within the area.
The native BJP unit agreed that “water crisis” is a significant problem, however blamed the Narmada Bachao Andolan for the fixed delay within the Sardar Sarovar Project.
“The entire project has been delayed due to the Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are confident that once the elections are over, the work will start on a war footing to set up the infrastructure to bring in regular water supply in the region,” BJP MLA from Abdasa Pradhyuman Sinh Jadeja instructed PTI.
On the opposite hand, the Congress claims water disaster within the area is the most important instance of the BJP’s administrative and political failure.
“Even after 27 years, if you have to blame others for failing to provide water in the region, then BJP leaders should quit politics and sit back at home. This is the biggest example of BJP’s administrative failure,” Yajuvendra Jadeja mentioned.
Senior AAP chief Ankita Gor mentioned if voted to energy, the celebration would guarantee consuming water services in every family of the area.