NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, MAY 11
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the latest coronavirus situation in Gujarat and steps taken by his government to contain its spread.
Rupani was among the chief ministers, who interacted with Modi through video- conference. The PM-CMs meeting was called to discuss ways to strengthen the COVID-19 containment strategy as the third phase of lockdown comes to end on May 17.
Had an extensive meeting with CMs. Each CM shared their perspective on battling COVID-19.
We discussed the way ahead in the post-COVID era, the challenges in healthcare, education and other sectors. https://t.co/0SZptVbzAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 11, 2020
In an official release, the state government said Rupani took part in the meeting and shared details about various decisions taken so far by his government about opening shops, industries, and other commercial activities in the state.
Rupani also held discussions with the PM about the future strategy to contain the viral infection and also start industrial activities, it said.
‘Bano Mask force ka hissa, Karo khatam Corona ka kissa’. Learn how to make a mask by downloading the Aarogya Setu app today. Share the picture/video of the mask made by you with us using the #TeamMaskForce Challenge to get featured. #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/X3ZCdCpeZL
— Gujarat Information (@InfoGujarat) May 11, 2020
During a similar PM-CMs meeting held in end-April, Rupani had said his government will follow whatever the Centre decides on fighting COVID-19.
Gujarat has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country after Maharashtra.
Scribe booked on sedition charge for publishing news on ‘removal’ of CM Rupani from his post
An editor of a Gujarati news portal has been booked on the charge of sedition for uploading a news item suggesting that BJP high-command may remove Chief Minister Vijay Rupani from his post and replace him with Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, police said on Monday.
https://twitter.com/DahodMahiti/status/1259778524967243776?s=20
An FIR was registered by the Ahmedabad crime branch on Friday against Dhaval Patel, the editor of news portal Face Of Nation, under section 124-a (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act, a senior officer said.
“As a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus pandemic, Patel has been detained, not arrested, and sent to SVP Hospital for COVID-19 test,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) BV Gohil.
She is Subhadraben Patel of Mervada village of Mehsana district. Government has deposited Rs. 1250 under Vidhava Sahay in her bank account. She is thanking government for timely help.@PIB_India pic.twitter.com/8HUnZp27gz
— PIB in Gujarat 🇮🇳 (@PIBAhmedabad) May 11, 2020
As per the FIR, Patel published a story on his news portal on May 7 suggesting a change of guard in the state. The piece even claimed that Mandaviya has been called by the BJP high-command to discuss the same.
The article further claimed that the high command was not happy with Rupani’s handling of coronavirus crisis in the state.
However, Mandaviya refuted this rumour in his Twitter handle.
Rupani-Patel tiff hits Covid-19 plan in state
Criticising the Gujarat government for complacency in tackling COVID 19 pandemic, the Congress, here on Tuesday, attributed it to differences between Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.
Addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Shakti Singh Gohil said, “Everyone knows what’s going on between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister.”
Stating that Ahmedabad is among the worst-affected cities and the government is not doing enough to deal with it, Gohil said, “The Congress doesn’t want to play politics, but to give constructive suggestions.”
Earlier, Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda had alleged that COVID-19 cases spiked in the state because of the ”Namaste Trump” event in Ahmedabad.
“Due to the ”Namaste Trump” programme, Ahmedabad has become Covid-19 hotspot with 73 percent deaths in the state. Not only Gujarat, but the whole nation is paying the price of ”Namaste Trump” event,” he said.
Calling the Gujarat model of development a lie, the Congress said it had devastated not only Gujarat but the entire nation.
Shameful that BJP-ruled states amending labour laws to lure foreign investors: Cong
The Congress on Monday said it was shameful that BJP-ruled states were amending labour laws under the cover of a pandemic to lure foreign investors and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to not allow this.
WR द्वारा 10/5 शाम जूनागढ़ – मेघनगर,वडोदरा-देवरिया,मोरबी-शाजापुर तथा 11/5/20 को राजकोट-बलिया, सूरत से जगन्नाथपुर,कोडरमा व काठगोदाम #ShramikSpecials में #lockdown के नियमों का पालन करते हुए लगभग 8500 लोगों को उनके राज्यों में भेजा गया।
— Gujarat Information (@InfoGujarat) May 11, 2020
Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil appealed to the Central government to deny permission to states amending labour laws “to strip workers of their basic rights”.
He said labour laws have been suspended by the BJP governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
“This is yet another shocking but unsurprising blow to workers and labourers by BJP governments.
જિલ્લામા વસતા મધ્યપ્રદેશના કુલ-૧૫૯૫ મજુરો તેમજ તેમના બાળકોને વહેલી સવારે ૪:૩૦ કલાકે ફુડ પેકેટ્સની વ્યવસ્થા સાથે ટ્રેનમાં તેમના વતન જવા રવાના કર્યા. રેલ્વે સ્ટેશન ખાતે તમામનું મેડીકલ સ્ક્રિનીંગ કર્યા બાદ જ પ્રવેશ આપવામાં આવ્યો.@CMOGuj @pkumarias @InfoGujarat @informationpor2 pic.twitter.com/medjnfto3v
— Collector Porbandar (@collectorpor) May 11, 2020
“If the prime minister has little concern for workers and labourers, then he should himself tell these states to not go ahead with amending labour laws and not allow them in doing so. We would expect the prime minister to intervene today itself,” he told reporters through video at a press conference.
He said it was “shocking and heartbreaking” that at a time when the entire nation is dealing with an unprecedented pandemic, which has disproportionately ravaged and devastated the lives of the poor, the Modi government has taken this as an opportunity to deprive them of their rights.
“This is shameful and once again highlights the true nature and priorities of this ”Suit-Boot ki Sarkar,” he said.
Gohil said as these laws are in the Concurrent List, no such suspension can take place without the explicit approval of the Central government.
“We, therefore, ask the Modi government to deny any permission those strip workers of their basic rights and have the potential of diminishing their livelihood.
“We also ask that trade unions be consulted before such an adverse step is taken,” he said.
Nirma labourers vandalise staff bus after train cancellation
Hundreds of labourers working at the Nirma Limited’s detergent plant in Bhavnagar district allegedly went on a rampage and vandalised a staff bus in the early hours of Monday after a Shramik Special train to Uttar Pradesh from here was cancelled, police said.
The incident took place at the labourers’ colony near Nirma plant in Kala Talav area after the workers got angry thinking the company was not letting them go to their native place during the lockdown, “which was not true”, Superintendent of Police Jaipalsinh Rathore said.
“Some of the labourers were supposed to catch a special train to Uttar Pradesh from Bhavnagar railway station on Monday morning. When they were being taken to the station in a staff bus, the company management learnt the train was cancelled due to some reason. Thus, the bus took a u-turn mid-way and came back to the labourers’ colony,” he said.
The labourers thought the company was not allowing them to go, the official said.
“After returning, they went on a rampage and broke some window panes and windscreen of the bus,” he said.
Police lodged an FIR under charges of rioting and a process was underway to arrest 10 of the labourers, he added.
Gujarat sent over 5.5 lakh migrants to their states, 30 more trains will leave on Monday
Secretary to CM Ashwani Kumar on Monday said, “Gujarat Government has successfully sent more than 5.5 lakh migrant labourers to their respective native states through 209 labour trains. The district administration of Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara undertook this task with utmost diligence. All necessary safety protocols were observed during the journey.”
A total of 461 labour trains operated across India till May 8, 2020. Gujarat had contributed 209 trains out of 461 trains, which is equivalent to 45% of the total trains. Out of the 209 trains, 147 have been sent to UP, 23 to Bihar, 21 to Orissa, 11 for M.P, 6 for Jharkhand and 1 for Chattisgarh. 50 trains have operated from Ahmedabad, 72 from Surat, 16 from Vadodara, 10 from Rajkot, 12 from Morbi, 6 from Palanpur, 5 trains each from Nadiad and Jamnagar, 4 trains each from Godhra and Anand, 3 trains each from Junagadh, Navsari and Bhavnagar and the reaming ones from other districts. Maharashtra has operated 61 trains (13%), Telangana has operated 27 trains (6%) and 49 trains have been operated by Punjab (11%).
30 more trains will be operated on Monday taking the total tally to 239.
It is important to note here that the migrants are provided potable water and food in the trains.
Cops on toes in Red zones, containment areas
Providing details on the preparedness of the State Police Department in fighting the battle against Coronavirus, especially in Red Zones and containment areas, Director-General of Police Shivanand Jha said that strict lockdown is being implemented with the help of various police forces, including paramilitary.
Bus services have been started in various districts to carry people home safely. It is mandatory to follow social-distancing throughout the travel. The police are now checking buses to make certain that social-distancing is being followed and not more than 30 passengers are travelling in one bus.
The state government is making efforts to ensure that migrants reach their homes safely but it won’t be possible without the support of the migrant workers. To keep a check on their well-being, police officers are making personal visits to the shelters where migrants are being hosted.
Jha said that a total of 22,559 people have been arrested for 12,243 offences to date. Meanwhile, under the Smart City and VISWAS project, 74 individuals have been arrested for 79 crimes reported through the CCTV network tallying up to 4,156 individuals for 3,032 crimes. Additionally, 16 crimes have been registered so far and 23 people have been arrested through CCTV surveillance in residential societies.
Similarly, for spreading fake messages and rumors through social media, so far 754 crimes have been registered and 1,561 accused have been arrested. 23 accounts have been blocked. 212 and 40 offenses have been registered through videography and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), respectively. A total of 1,181 offenses have been registered with the help of mounted cameras on special ‘Prahari’ Van.
Cases that have been registered so far include 2,131 cases of violation of lockdown, 710 against those violating quarantine, and 479 other cases. 5,596 vehicles have been seized in the state, added Jha while the police have released 2,17,427 detained vehicles as well.
18,824 SSJA works begin in 3,463 villages
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani initiated the third phase of Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan (SSJA) in order to provide employment opportunities to the workers amidst lockdown.
Secretary to CM. Ashwani Kumar said, “3,463 Gram Panchayats have started 18,824 works under MNREGA thereby employing 3, 04,756 labourers. This includes 37, 519 workers from Bhavnagar, 33,800 from Narmada, 20,821 from Chhota Udepur, 20,168 from Dahod, 20,041 from Panchmahal in addition to workers from the 3463 Gram Panchayats. The administration is ensuring the welfare of the workers in addition to following safety protocols amidst the lockdown.”
A total of 531 works have been completed and 3,665 are in progress against the target of 14,694 works in the third phase of SSJA. Around 35,465 machines, which include 816 JCB, and other equipment have been used so far. 23 thousand people have been employed through the 3,665 works leading to employment generation of 6,10, 368 man-days. Water holding capacity of more than 35, 55,000 cubic feet has been created so far. The dugout soil has been provided to farmers free of cost.
