Sedition case: Hardik Patel granted bail, can't enter Gujarat for six months

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel was granted bail on Friday by the Gujarat High Court in both the sedition cases against him.

However one of the conditions of the bail was that he will not be permitted to enter Gujarat for the next six months.

Gulbarg massacre verdict: Zakia Jafri says 'fight will continue'

Expressing disappointment with the acquittal of 36 people in connection the 2002 post-Godhra riots case of Gulbarg Society, former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri's wife Zakia Jafri on Thursday said that her fight would continue.

Zakia said the accused should have been punished as only then they would have understood the severity of their crime.

Recalling the horrific incident, she told ANI in Surat that the accused should have been given some strict punishment.

"I'm not asking for capital punishment, but at least there should be some strict action against them. If they stay ten-twenty years away from their family and children, they will understand the pain of separation," she added.

Gulbarg massacre verdict: 24 convicted, 36 acquitted by special court

A special SIT court on Thursday convicted 24 out of the 66 accused in the 2002 Gulbarg society communal riots and acquitted 36 accused.

According to reports, 11 out of the 24 have been convicted for murder and 13 for other charges.

Special Court judge PB Desai delivered the judgment eight months after the trial concluded on September 22, last year.

Bipin Patel, a sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator, who was also the corporator in 2002 when the massacre happened and won the election for fourth consecutive term last year, has been reportedly acquitted.

BJP leader arrested for alleged molestation on flight

Sardarnagar police here today arrested a Gandhinagar-based BJP leader for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl on board a Goa-Ahmedabad flight of IndiGo Airlines on May 29.

Ashok Makwana, the accused, is a labour contractor.

Based on a complaint filed by the girl's parents, police today arrested the 41-year-old Makwana, said inspector V R Patel of Sardarnagar police station.

Gujarat: Toddler dies after falling into 300 ft deep bore well

A two-and-a-half year old girl, who had fallen into a bore well in Gujarat's Surendranagar District yesterday, has died during the treatment after being rescued.

The girl fell in the 300 feet deep bore well in Juna Ghanshyamgadh village in Dhrangadhra taluka at around 7 p.m. yesterday evening.

The moment the parents of the ill-fated child came to know of it, they informed the village chief, who in-turn sought the help of district administration.

Soon, a team comprising of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) personnel, police and fire department officials rushed to the spot and began the rescue operations using CCTV cameras, oxygen cylinders and ropes.

After five-hour long relentless efforts the child was retrieved, but she breathed her last while the doctors were trying to resuscitate her.
-Source ANI

Shiv Sena workers tear banners of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's concert in Ahmedabad

Shiv Sena workers on Monday were seen tearing banners of Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's concert which is scheduled to be held on April 30.
A Shiv Sena worker told ANI that it was very condemnable that Pakistani artists are coming to India when the country is suffering from various problems like drought, etc.

"There is a problem of drought here. There are so many problems in the country. It is very condemnable that in such a situation Pakistani artists are coming," he said.

"The Shiv Sena is opposed to Pakistani artists coming to India. The people, who are business-concerned, are calling these artists for their motives. We will attack all artists if they come. We will tear all posters of him," he added.

The Shiv Sena workers had on Friday staged a protest against Pakistani ghazal singer Ustad Ghulam Ali in Varanasi.

Holding placards in their hands, the protestors took to the streets and raised slogans against the Pakistani singer.

Ghulam Ali is expected perform at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Varanasi during the inaugural day of an annual music concert beginning on April 26.

The performance by Ali, who had participated in the concert last year as well, will be preceded by classical singer Pandit Vishwanath.
-Source ANI

Guj govt to provide ample water to all regions: CM

The Gujarat government will provide "ample water" to all regions of the state, where nearly 1,000 villages have been declared scarcity-hit, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said today.

"The Government will provide ample water to all regions of the state," she said while attending "Lok Samvad Setu" at Dhanpur and Devgadh Baria talukas of Dahod district bordering Madhya Pradesh yesterday.

Lok Samvad Setu is an initiative to build a bridge between the government and the people through dialogue and redress public grievances.

Patel's assurance comes in the wake of 994 villages in parched Saurashtra and Kutch regions being declared affected by water scarcity.

"Tankers would be provided in the regions where there is no other source of water. Also, fodder depots would be constructed wherever required to feed cattle," she said.

Lok Samvad Setu would be organised in different parts of the state every four months, Patel said and instructed officials to hold review meetings at regular intervals to monitor the progress of unresolved issues of people.

The Chief Minister asked the government officials to adopt a humane approach while dealing with the issues faced by the people and said administration should ensure basic public amenities are provided.

"This initiative has been launched with an aim to facilitate efficient and immediate solution to the problems faced by the people," Patel said.
-Source PTI

Patidar agitation: Internet services restored in Gujarat

Surat (Gujarat), Apr. 19 (ANI): The internet services have been restored in Gujarat and the situation in violence-hit Mehsana and other areas of the state has returned to normal.

The District Administration in Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Surat has also withdrawn prohibitory orders under section 144.

The section was imposed after a clash broke out between the police and members of Patidar community yesterday during their 'Jail Bharo Andolan', demanding release of their leader Hardik Patel.

A state level committee of seven ministers formed to negotiate with the quota agitators yesterday held a meeting with the leaders of the Patel community in Gandhinagar.

Baring sporadic incidents, the Gujarat bandh call on Monday given by the Patidar organizations was by and large remained peaceful.

Some miscreants had tried to torch the empty house of state Home Minister Rajnikant Patel in Visnagar town of Mehsana, however police dispersed the mob by bursting teargas shells and control the fire.

The police have booked more than 5,000 persons from various parts of the state including Sardar Patel Group leader Lalji Patel for charges of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy.
-Source ANI

Guj: Patel rally in Mehsana turns violent, Lalji Patel injured

Mehsana, Apr 17 (PTI) A massive rally of the Patel community at Mehsana town in Gujarat demanding reservation and release of their jailed leaders today turned violent as police used lathicharge and fired teargas shells on the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone-pelting.

Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the `Jail Bharo' agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community.

SPG chief Lalji Patel received head injury during the face-off with the police.

While the police claimed they resorted to lathicharge only after some persons started throwing stones at the police vehicles, Lalji Patel alleged that Patel agitators were targeted without any provocation.

"Our protest was peaceful as announced earlier. However, police suddenly hit me and some of our members when we were walking ahead of the procession. I was hit on head. You can see the blood on my face. We were beaten up without any provocation," said Patel, who along with some other agitators were detained by the police subsequently.

In-charge DGP of Gujarat P P Pandey claimed the situation deteriorated only after some people resorted to violence.

"Police always work to establish peace. The gathering was peaceful initially. However, the situation deteriorated only after some persons resorted to violence and damaged property. I have already sent additional force to handle the situation," Pandey said.

Meanwhile, SPG as well as Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) have given a call for `Gujarat Bandh' tomorrow.
-Source PTI

Celebratory firing sparks controversy in Ravindra Jadeja's marriage

Rajkot, Apr 17 (ANI): Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's marriage sparked a controversy when celebratory firing took place just a few feet away from the bridegroom during the marriage procession in Rajkot on Sunday.

According to reports, local police immediately launched a probe into the incident and said it is unlawful to use even licensed firearms except in cases of self-defence.

Earlier, the 27-year-old created a stir in the online space by displaying his sword skills during the sangeet ceremony.

Jadeja will tie the nuptial knot with fiancee Riva Solanki today. The couple had got engaged in the first week of February.

According to reports, all-rounder's close friends MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo and many other Indian players are expected to attend the wedding reception on Sunday.
-Source ANI

NTPC supplies surplus electricity to Gujarat

New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) State-run NTPC today said it has supplied surplus power of up to 100 MW to Gujarat, which is facing power shortage due multiple outage of their generating units.

"NTPC, through its subsidiary NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN) has supplied Un-Requisitioned Surplus (URS) power from Dadri Stage-I to Gujarat Urja Vitaran Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) under short-term bilateral mode on April 10 and 100 MW on April 11, (Monday from 10 hrs to 24 hrs) as per Central Electricity Regulatory Commission tariff," a source said.

The source further said, "Power has been supplied based on a request received from GUVNL to meet the power demand of the state, which is facing power shortage due to multiple outage of their generating units."

According to the latest information available on Vidut Pravah dashbord, Gujarat's current demand of electricity is 12,696 MW. Yesterday, the electricity demand of the state was 11,672 MW. It has purchased 766 MW (Rs 2.36 per unit) to meet today's demand and had bought 477 MW (Rs 2.56 per unit) yesterday to bridge the supply gap.

The coal-based Dadri station mainly meets requirements of National Capital Region and the northern grid with the World Bank funding component.

Under Stage-I, there are four 210 MW coal based units.

Similarly, in stage-II (490 MW X 2) coal-based units are scheduled in 2010 to meet the common wealth games power requirement.
-Source PTI

Gujarat CM launches 'Maa Annapurna Yojna'

Ahmedabad, Apr 6 (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today officially launched the state-wide implementation of National Food Security Act, which has been renamed as 'Maa Annapurna Yojna (Scheme)' by the state government.

Though the Food Security Act was passed during the UPA regime at the Centre, Patel, in her speech at a grand launching function at Sanathal village near here, did not mention anything about the Act and sought to give all credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who according to Patel, envisioned the scheme.

"When Congress was ruling this state, only 1.88 crore people were given food-grains at subsidised rates prior to 1995. Now, under this Maa Annapurna Yojna, 3.82 crore people of Gujarat will be benefited. Each of them will get rice at Rs 3 per Kg and wheat at Rs 2 per Kg," said Patel.

She even slammed past Congress governments in Gujarat for "not understanding the pain of poor citizens".

"Out of 35 kg given at subsidised rates during Congress rule, only 16 kg of food-grain was given at those rates, while for the remaining 19 kg, government used to charge Rs 7.70.

Now, PM Modi removed this condition and has announced to give the entire 35 kg of food-grain at subsidised rates," she said.

Patel claimed that Modi is the first PM of India who took care of poor citizens.

"Due to efforts of Modiji, many poor citizens, including widows and those farmers who lost their crops, are now covered under this scheme and they no longer have to worry about feeding their families. No other PM has thought about poor people in the past," said Patel.

Though the implementation of the Act started in Gujarat from April 1, it was officially launched by the CM on the foundation day of BJP today. Other ministers have simultaneously launched the scheme from different parts of state today.

In her speech, Patel appealed to the citizens to come forward in withdrawing their names from the list of beneficiaries if they are well-off and do not need the food-grain at subsidised rates..
-Source PTI

35 Pakistanis held in Rajasthan over incomplete documents

Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), Mar.26 (ANI): At least 35 Pakistani nationals have been held by the Rajasthan Police for having incomplete documents in Ramdevra District.

The Pakistani nationals, who entered India through the Thar Desert via Munabav, have visa for Mathura and Haridwar but not for Ramdevra.

These people were planning to visit the Baba Ramdev Temple where the Samadhi of Baba Ramdev stands.

It is reported that these people belong to Amarkot, Mirpur Khas and Tharparkar of Sindh province in Pakistan.

A joint interrogation would today be conducted.
-Source ANI

Ahmedabad experiences 'La Tomatina' Holi

Ahmedabad, Mar. 24 (ANI): This year, Ahmedabad saw some really different ways of playing Holi - some used foams and some used tomatoes.

Ahmedabad saw a mini 'La Tomatina,' wherein thousands of tomatoes were used instead of colours to mark this festival.

La Tomatina is basically a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol near to Valencia in Spain, where thousands of people make their way from all corners of the world to fight in this 'World's Biggest Food Fight' where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.

Another part of Ahmadabad saw usage of foam, where instead of colour-showers and coloured-water pools, people were seen enjoying in an area covered with foam.
-Source ANI

Ghulam Ali to be awarded, will perform in Gujarat next week

Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali will be presented the Hanumant Award and will also perform next week at a cultural event in Gujarat organised by a trust run by religious leader Morari Bapu.

The 75-year-old singer will perform on any one of the four days of the cultural programme beginning March 19 in Bhavnagar district.

Harishchandra Joshi, the event organiser and a close aide of Morari Bapu, said the maestro will perform in Talgajarda village, about 175 km from Ahmedabad.

Besides this, Ghulam Ali and nine other artistes will be presented awards by the Shree Chitrakutdham Trust.

"Ghulam Ali and five others will be given the Hanumant Award on the concluding day (March 22). Ali will perform once during the four-day event. He had performed here in the past also," said Joshi.

Two other recipients of the Hanumant Award, which is being given for the last 10 years, include Lok Sabha member and actress-classical dancer Hema Malini and sitarist Debu Chaudhary.

"Film actor Dharmendra along with three other artistes will be given the Natraj Award for their contribution in their field, while Vadodara-based sculptor Nagji Patel will be honoured with Kailash Lalit Kala Award on March 22," said Joshi.

Ghulam Ali last year cancelled his shows in Mumbai and Pune because of opposition from the Shiv Sena.
-Source IANS