1. Farmer, Middle-Class Friendly Budget, Say Gujarat Industry Leaders
Local industry leaders termed the Budget announcements made by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday as pro-farmers and pro-middle class.
They said that some pro-industry proposals would have boosted the spirit of industry and exporters. However, representatives of farmers say the measures are too little. Moreover, there should be clarity on how the benefits can be availed of.
Talking to media persons after the announcement of the Budget, Jaimin Vasa, president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said that this a popular Budget taking into account upcoming elections for the Lok Sabha. "The Budget has announced sops for farmers, the poor and the middle class. It would have been better if there were measures to promote MSMEs and exporters. Companies that are doing research or innovation should be supported. Those developing import-substituting products should be encouraged," said Vasa.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
2. ‘Gangster Pujari Made Extortion Calls to Gujarat Congress Leaders, Mevani’
Mumbai-based gangster Ravi Pujari, who has been arrested in Senegal, has at least 25 cases registered against him in Gujarat. Most of these cases are related to extortion and threat calls allegedly made to businessmen and Congress politicians. Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani had also allegedly received threat calls from Pujari.
Among the people who received extortion calls is RS Sodhi, managing director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Federation, that sells dairy products under the brand name of Amul. Pratik Sinha, who runs web portal Alt News that exposes fake news and messages, had also allegedly received threat calls from a person claiming to be Ravi Pujari. Pujari had told Sinha to stop writing or else he would be shot dead.
Over the past two years, at least ten Congress MLAs allegedly received threat calls from Pujari. The names include party chief Amit Chavda, Congress leaders Govabhai Rabari, Chandrikaben Baria, among others.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Ahmed Patel Case: Gujarat High Court Orders Probe in Missing Papers
The Gujarat High Court on Friday asked the court's registrar general to carry out a probe into the issue of missing documents from the case file in the election petition filed by BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput against the Rajya Sabha poll victory of Congress leader Ahmed Patel.
Notably, the single judge bench of Justice Bela Trivedi discovered the missing documents on Thursday and was miffed on the same. Eventually, the court ordered the registry to carry out the probe and submit a report explaining the movement of the case file in the registry and who are the persons responsible for the missing documents.
According to Patel's advocate, PS Champaneri, the original election petition of Rajput along with annexures, as well as the summons issued to Patel were missing. Notably, the court gave a week's time to the registrar general to carry out the probe in the case of missing documents and postponed the trial in the case till February 8.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
4. Narmada Crocodiles: Animal Rights Outfit Urges CM to Stop Relocation
Days after The Indian Express reported the state government’s decision to relocate hundreds of crocodiles from Pond 3 and 4 of the Narmada Dam in Kevadia colony to clear path for the sea plane terminal connecting the Statue of Unity, the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) has written to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani to immediately discontinue the exercise.
The letter, which cites the report in The Indian Express, highlights the fact that the reptile is an endangered species classified under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. The letter also cites a concern raised by experts in the report published by this newspaper that releasing crocodiles into the reservoir will hamper their nesting abilities owing to the slope of the dam.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam, Torrent Power Hike Fuel Surcharge
Citing higher power purchase cost, the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) and Torrent Power hiked the fuel surcharge on electricity for the current quarter. GUVNL hiked the surcharge for Jan-March 2019 by a steep 28 paise to Rs1.99 per unit, while Torrent hiked it from Rs 2.09 per unit to Rs 2.11.
GUVNL said the FPPPA charge for third quarter worked out at Rs 2.07 per unit as against Rs 1.80 for the second quarter. It hiked the Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPPA) charge for Jan-March quarter to Rs 1.99 per unit from Rs 1.71 for Oct-Dec 2018 quarter.
In a letter to the four power distribution companies, GUVNL asked them to charge FPPPA at Rs 1.99 per unit for the quarter from all categories of consumers, excluding agricultural consumers.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
6. Rajkot Civic Body, Su to Organise Five-Day Book Fair from 9 February
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) and Saurashtra University (SU), Rajkot, are set to organise Saurasthra Book Fair and Literature Festival in the city from 9 to 14 February.
Rajkot Mayor Bina Acharya, Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, SU Registrar Ramesh Parmar and Mehul Rupani, member of syndicate body of SU, made the announcement of the five-day book-fair and literature festival, at a joint press conference organised at the RMC headquarters on Friday.
“The state government is running Vanche Gujarat campaign to promote reading habits among people of Gujarat. Rajkot is already a smart city and RMC runs five libraries. To promote reading habits and literary activities, RMC and Saurashtra University have decided to jointly organise Saurashtra Book Fair and Literature Festival. The fair and festival give one more identity to Rajkot city,” the municipal commissioner said.
(Source: Indian Express)
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