1. Severe Heat Wave in State, Mercury Soars Over 46 Degrees
Severe heat wave conditions prevailed in Gujarat as mercury breached the 46 degree Celsius mark on Sunday, 28 April. Kandla Airport recorded a high of 46.8 degree Celsius on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of severe heat wave to prevail in parts of Gujarat on 29 and 30 April.
On Sunday, maximum temperature across the state hovered between 43 and 44 degree Celsius. The IMD forecast for Sunday read: “Severe heat wave conditions prevailed at isolated pockets in Valsad, Porbandar, Veraval, Diu, Bhavnagar and Kutch. Heat wave conditions prevailed in isolated pockets of the district of Surat.”
The weather department’s forecast warned for Monday: “Severe heat wave conditions in the districts of Saurashtra and Kutch namely Porbandar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar and Kutch, besides Diu. Heat wave conditions very likely to prevail at isolated pockets in the districts of south Gujarat region namely Vadodara, Surat and Valsad, besides Saurashtra namely Rajkot, Amreli, Surendranagar.”
(Source: Indian Express)
2. 40 Days After Gangrape Case Filed, Prime Accused Still on the Run, Police Under Fire
Even after three days since a 20-year-old gangrape victim died at Civil Hospital here due to complications from an attempted abortion, Ahmedabad Police have been unable to arrest the prime accused, Hardik Shukla, thereby coming under heavy criticism from civil society and Opposition parties in the state.
Director General of Police Shivanand Jha had also sought an explanation from Ahmedabad Police Commissioner AK Singh on the matter on Saturday, 27 April.
On Sunday, 28 April, speaking to Indian Express, the Commissioner defended his team saying there was “no intention on the part of the police to not take cognisance of the case”. On the contrary, he said, the police had played an active part in getting the case registered, as the parents needed to be “goaded” into it.
“I believe there were no lapses on our part,” Commissioner Singh said. “It was because of the police’s encouragement that the victim’s parents agreed to lodge a complaint.”
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Rahul Gandhi's Image Now Worse Than in 2014: Rupani
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani feels Rahul Gandhi's image is now worse than what it was in 2014, and says he pities the Congress president when he sees him getting trolled on social media over his "immature" behaviour.
In an interview to PTI, Rupani also says that after the 'Modi wave' in 2014, the country will for the first time this year witness the "Modi tsunami".
"I feel pity for Rahul Gandhi seeing him being trolled excessively on social media over his immature behaviour. His image is of a non-serious politician...with his winks in Parliament, antics like hugging Modiji. All this shows his immaturity. His image is now worse than it was in 2014," he says.
Rupani was in the city to campaign for BJP's Mumbai-North East candidate Manoj Kotak, to seek support of the city's Gujarat community for the party candidate.
(Source: PTI)
4. Tur Dal Stock Inspection Begins After Adulteration Complaints
The state government on Sunday, 28 April, began inspection of the tur dal stock stored at a marketing yard in Visavadar in Junagadh district following complaints of adulteration.
The development comes three days after seven persons were booked after tur dal stocked in a warehouse in Keshod town of Junagadh was found to be adulterated.
The Congress MLA from Visavadar had alleged on Saturday, 27 April, that tur dal procured by the Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation on behalf of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) was adulterated. He had also conducted a janta raid at a yard, and later held a protest at the district collectorate demanding action.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
5. Private Company Destroys Mangroves Along Victor Port : PIL
In a public interest litigation (PIL) being heard by the Gujarat High Court against the destruction of mangroves by a private company Om Sai Navigations, the petitioner, Ajay Shiyal, has once again reiterated that the mangroves were there till 2016, but were later cut down by the private company, and GHCL.
He has alleged that the mangrove cover has been also destroyed by other individuals involved in the business of prawn culture.
Shiyal has also alleged that the private company is using heavy machinery and pouring chemicals to destroy the mangrove cover along Victor Port. He has also alleged that close to 40,000 mangroves along the Victor Port area have been already destroyed.
He has also submitted maps and photographs before the court to drive home his point that mangrove cover, which is non-existent now, was there before 2016.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
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