Modi keeps Keshubhai at arm's length Tuesday, November 27, 2001
BY RAJIV SHAH, FOR TIMES NEWS NETWORK
GANDHINAGAR: The divide between Chief Minister Modi and his predecessor Narendra Modi seems to be widening.
The former chief minister's camp increasingly feeling unhappy about the way Modi is "neglecting" and "sidelining" Keshubhai. It is not known if it is Modi's revenge against Keshubhai, who had banished him from the state for four years.
Says a Modi protege, "Keshubhai, when he was CM, never consulted Modi. Modi, too, is well within his rights to do the same."
The former CM has been keeping indifferent health ever since he relinquished office. Keshubhai rarely moves out of his residence here, fumbles while speaking and doesn't tread more than a few steps.
But poor health didn't deter him from attending a wedding at agriculture secretary AWP David's residence or the state BJP's executive committee meeting in Ahmedabad. He went to Rajkot during Diwali.
Keshubhai's aides regret that Modi didn't visit their leader to wish him on Gujarati New Year day. He had called on Keshubhai when he was hospitalised, but that was the only meeting between the two since October 7, when Keshubhai relinquished office.
Points out a Keshubhai supporter, "Even his political rival Shankarsinh Vaghela pays obeisance to him, but not Modi. Shankarsinh, who quit the BJP in 1996, makes it a point to touch Keshubhai's feet, whether it be at his residence, airport, anywhere. Modi's approach seems coldly political!"
When asked, Keshubhai refuses to reveal much. He speaks mostly on his health, how much time he might take to get well, how he is dieting.
Ask him on politics and Modi and he replies, "Not now. We will talk later. I read a couple of papers, listen to those paying a courtesy call. That's about all. I really do not know what all is happening." He even refuses to reveal if Modi meets him. "We meet during public functions."
Reveals an aide, "Modi did not meet Keshubhai during the BJP executive. Nor was Keshubhai invited to two public functions in North Gujarat for commissioning water supply schemes started by him."
How Keshubhai's position has been undermined can be seen from the way officials who were close to him are being treated. A senior engineer from Jamnagar, C J Thakkar, was officer on special duty in Keshubhai's CMO. Even 45 days after being summarily pushed out of the CMO and sent back to the urban development department, he has not received a posting.
Same is the case with Mehul Dave, a deputy development officer who was a key figure in Keshubhai's CMO. Sent back to the revenue department, Dave is again left without a posting. Both Thakkar and Dave have not received their salaries.
IAS officers who were known to be close to Keshubhai remain sidelined after having been given punishment postings. One of them claimed, "Two of Modi's men, Vijay Rupani and Dilip Sanghani, met officials like RK Tripathi, PK Laheri, IP Gautam and others and conveyed to them they would be rehabilitated as the new CM now realises it was a mistake to have sidelined them. But there has been no progress."
Sanjay Gupta and Ravi Saxena had met the CM directly after being shunted out of key positions. Yet, nothing happened.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Panchayat election notification issued Tuesday, November 27, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The model code of conduct for ministers and office-bearers of the boards and corporations has come in force with effect from Monday with the State Election Commission issuing the notification for gram panchayat elections scheduled for December 23.
Commission secretary S D Sharma said on Monday that the election code of conduct will be implemented strictly to prevent anybody influencing voters at district, taluka or village levels.
As per the code, ministers and office-bearers are not allowed to make any announcements about financial grants or any such promises, also not clear payments from their discretionary funds, not lay foundations for any projects as also not make promises for construction of roads or facilities for water.
They have been restricted from visiting villages in their official vehicles or staying where elections are to be held. There is restriction also on holding meetings with officials connected with the election process, or even taking government or panchayat employees with them.
The state government and the ruling party have also been prohibited from making announcements on government plans or projects or about policy matters, which would influence the voters. Taluka and district panchayat office-bearers have also been prohibited from using government vehicles during the period.
Following the notification, nominations will be invited from candidates wishing to contest the elections to 13,334 gram panchayats which will go to polls on December 23. The filing of nominations will end on December 3, and scrutiny will be done on December 4. Withdrawal of nominations will take place on December 5-6. Counting of ballots will be done on December 26-27. The elections will not be fought on party symbols though both the Congress and BJP are expected to form panels in each panchayat which will have the support of the party.
Nearly two crore voters spread across 25,000 polling stations are eligible to vote in these elections, considered crucial for the BJP which is trying hard to avoid as many contests as possible through the 'Samras' scheme. Under the scheme cash incentives of Rs 60,000 or Rs 1 lakh will be given to panchayats will co-opt the panch and sarpanch unanimously . Besides, priority in infrastructural works will be given to villages having Samras status.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
HC asks for progress report on Vondh by Dec 28 Tuesday, November 27, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court has directed the Disaster Management Committee and the revenue authorities to submit by December 28, a complete report on the progress made in the rehabilitation of the quake-affected village of Vondh (Kutch), which has been adopted by the Maharashtra government.
A division Bench comprising chief justice D M Dharmadhikari and Justice D H Waghela passed the order on Monday, in a petition filed by Ranchhod Gandhi, who is a member of the Bhachau taluka panchayat.
The petitioner had alleged that some anti-social elements in the village were trying to convince the villagers that it will not be in the interest of the villagers to shift to a new site and should instead prefer to live at the old site of the village.
The gramsabha of Vondh had passed a unanimous resolution to resettle at a new place, where the Maharashtra government was to construct 500 houses on the 400 acres of land allotted by the State.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
ONGC funds for AMC projects Tuesday, November 27, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
AHMEDABAD: The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) donated Rs 26 lakh to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday for civic infrastructure augmentation. ONGC officials handed over a cheque to Mayor Himmatsinh Patel in this regard.
This money is the "first installment" of the Rs 1.05 crore that ONGC has pledged to give to AMC for three civic projects - increasing capacity of V S Hospital's physiotherapy wing by constructing a new storey above the existing one, repair and maintenance of Dr Ambedkar slum quarters in Amraiwadi and reconstruction of the quake-hit municipal school in Meghaninagar.
On the occasion, Municipal Commissioner P Panneervel pledged to complete reconstruction of municipal school by March and that of V S Hospital by April.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Efforts on to make Girnar 'parikrama' a smooth affair Tuesday, November 27, 2001
SOURCE - TIMES NEWS NETWORK
RAJKOT: The annual Girnar 'parikrama', which is expected to attract about 15 lakh devotees, began on Monday morning. The district authorities have geared up the machinery to render all possible assistance to the participants.
Even before the 'parikrama' was officially flagged off by firing in the air amidst slogans of "Har, Har Mahadev and Jai Girinari", as many as 30,000 devotees had completed the 'yatra' by Sunday night itself, officials said.
The road on the entire 'parikrama' route has been levelled and with the check-dams filled to the brim due to the heavy rainfall, the 'yatris' will not face any water shortage.
When contacted, district collector Suyana Tomar and DSP Shashikant Trivedi told 'The Times of India' that a special police force had been deployed to ensure the safety of the 'yatris'. As many as 5 deputy superintendent of police, 10 police inspectors, 37 sub-inspectors, 268 police constables 28 woman police constables along with 150 Home Guards have been deployed all along the route.
As many as 85 special bus services have also been started for the benefit of the 'yatris' to reach Bhavnath from where the 'yatra' begins. In addition to the main bus station, 'yatris' can avail of the services beginning from the railway station, Janata Chowk and Majewadi Darwaja. The buses would ply round the clock for the next five days, ST sources said.
Meanwhile, the forest department has taken special care to ensure that there is no damage to the trees caused by the 'yatris' who are known break the branches to be used as walking sticks.
The department has decided to supply walking sticks to the old and the infirm as soon as they arrive at Lal Tekri, where they enter the forest area for the steep climb ahead.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
