1. Budget Session of Gujarat Assembly to Begin Today
Budget session of Gujarat Assembly is beginning on Monday, 18 February. The five day short session has been warranted by the government and the state will present vote on account budget on 19 February. The government is also going to table several bills during the session.
A senior official of government said, “The government is going to put the budget estimates for the expenditure that government would incur during next four months. The government has decided to present vote on account but some announcements for needy class is likely”
Paying tribute to martyrs, the CM had announced on Saturday that the Gujarat assembly will observe full day reference paying homage to martyrs on the first day of the budget session. The business would be rounded up after the formality of governor’s address to assembly on Monday.
(Source: DNA)
2. Twelve Raths Flagged off to Promote Dwadash Jyotirling Mahotsav at Somnath
Trustees of Shree Somnath Trust and Rajya Sabha MP Chunibhai Gohel on Saturday 16 February, flagged off the 12 raths (chariots) from the premises of the famous Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district for promotion of 12 jyotirlings among devotees and to also publicise the proposed Dwitiya Dwadash Jyotirling Mahotasav to be organised at Somnath temple from 23 February.
JD Parmar, a retired professor who is a trustee of Shree Somnath Trust (SST), Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader Chunibhai Gohel and officers of SST flagged off the 12 raths from the Somnath temple premises on Saturday.
These 12 raths, or a fleet of tableaux, dedicated one each to 12 jyotirlings of Lord Shiva in the country will roam in the 33 districts of the state for six days.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Sharpshooters Given Rs 30 Lakh to Kill Jayanti Bhanushali: SIT
Special Investigation Team (SIT) officers on Saturday arrested two sharpshooters in the former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali murder case. Bhanushali had been found dead on Sayaji Nagari Express train on 7 January. The two arrested were identified as Shashikant Kamble and Shaikh Asraf Anwar, both residents of Pune.
As per senior officials on Saturday, 16 February they were tipped off about two accused in Bhanushali murder case being seen in a hotel in Dang. Regarding that initially, the team of local police was sent to the spot to verify the information.
After getting confirmation, both the accused were arrested from a hotel room. This was a joint operation conducted by Railway Police and Anti- Terrorism Squad(ATS).
After the arrest, both were brought to Ahmedabad and were handed over to the SIT for further investigation.
(Source: DNA)
4. Air India Express Launches International Operations From Surat
Gujarat's 'diamond city' Surat has made it to the international aviation map with the first Air India Express flight arriving here carrying 75 passengers from Sharjah, the airline said on Sunday, 17 February.
The maiden Air India Express flight IX 172 from Sharjah touched down at the Surat airport at 11.30 pm on Saturday, 17 February with 75 passengers on board the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the airline said in a statement.
The passengers were received by the airline's chief executive officer K Shyam Sundar and other dignitaries, it said. With this, Surat has become the 20th destination in the country for the international budget arm of the flag carrier Air India, the airline said.
(Source: PTI)
5. 97 More Swine Flu Cases, Three Deaths in Gujarat
Swine flu cases continue unabated in the state. On Sunday, 17 February, 97 more cases of H1N1 virus were confirmed in the state by authorities, the highest in a single day in this season. On Saturday, 94 cases had been confirmed, which was the highest until now.
The state health department said that three swine flu patients succumbed on Sunday. With this, the number of swine flu deaths this year went up to 69. Gujarat has reported the second highest number of swine flu deaths in the country after Rajasthan this year.
With the 97 new ones, the number of swine flu cases in the state rose to 1,889. Thirty seven of the new cases were confirmed in Ahmedabad city, eight in Vadodara city, and six in Surat city. Four cases were reported in Kutch and Mehsana, while three were reported in Rajkot city, Bhavnagar city, Amreli, Banaskantha, Patan, and Porbandar.
(Source: DNA)
6. Gujarat Councillors Spend Session to Argue Over Political Matters
After the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) budget session on Sunday, 17 February it would seem that councillors are more interested in raking up political issues during important meetings instead of discussing the issues that affect citizens.
It was evident on Sunday, when councillors from BJP and the Congress ended up wasting the budget session by entering into a verbal spat over political issues, resulting in a ruckus and wastage of public money. Sources said that such meetings cost the AMC around Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh, including councillor allowances, transportation, food and other expenses.
On Sunday evening, the second-day for discussing AMC's main budget of Rs 8,051 crore, the session was conducted amid ruckus. It all started after one of the Congress member's mike was turned off abruptly.
(Source: DNA)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)