Rioters will face bulldozer action in Gujarat: Minister
Gandhinagar, Mar 19 (PTI): Gujarat MOS for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday justified the 'bulldozer action' against anti-social elements, saying only opposition parties are upset whereas people are happy with such measures.
Speaking in the assembly, Sanghavi also vowed strict action against those engage in "love jihad", who he said would be paraded on streets.
He was responding to Congress's charge that the BJP government had acted strictly only against small-time goons but excluded "mining mafias and land mafias".
"Instead of being happy, the opposition is upset over the crackdown on such anti-social elements. Opposition alleges that such elements are not afraid of the police.
"But their tone changes when Gujarat Police's bulldozer razes the buildings constructed on government land," said Sanghavi while seeking the approval of the House for Budgetary allocations for the Home Department.
He was referring to the demolition of illegally constructed houses of six of 14 accused arrested by Ahmedabad Police on March 14 for attacking commuters and rioting in Vastral area of the city.
"'Dada's bulldozer (read CM Bhupendra Patel) won't spare such elements who create ruckus after coming to Gujarat from other states," he added.
He said the same people labelled as "anti-social elements" in the night are perceived as poor people by the opposition in the morning.
"Dada's bulldozer will turn on anyone who comes to Gujarat and engages in riots. Miscreants were nabbed in hours and taught a lesson by police as per the law. Except for opposition MLAs, Gujarat is happy with the government's action," said Sanghavi.
On the Congress' charge of the growing menace of drugs, the MoS Home urged the Opposition not to politicise the issue, pointing out that Gujarat Police had seized drugs from other states including West Bengal.
Attacking Congress for its allegation that the law and order situation has deteriorated under BJP rule, Sanghavi said cities in Gujarat were once identified with residential "dons" under the Congress rule, "like Latif in Ahmedabad".
Gujarat ranked 33 in India's crime graph, the minister said citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data of 2022.
"Similarly, Gujarat was at the 27th position in crime against children and 33 in economic crimes. In Gujarat, police do not hesitate to arrest those who can be seen standing beside me in a photo. It is a certificate that the police do not work under any political influence," he said.
He said police will take strict action against those who engage in "love jihad".
"We have to take action if Amjad poses as Amit to trap girls. We have to take action for the safety of our daughters. And, it is necessary to take out their procession so that people can see their faces" said Sanghavi.
અમદાવાદ શહેર પોલીસ દ્વારા આજરોજ અસામાજીક તત્વો વિરુદ્ધ ની ડ્રાઇવ દરમિયાન ગેરકાયદેસર દબાણ પોલીસ દ્વારા દુર કરવામા આવ્યા.જેમા વેજલપુર પોલીસ સ્ટેશન વિસ્તારમા કુખ્યાત કાલુ ગરદનની 4 દુકાન અને 1 મકાન, દરિયાપુર રવિ નુ 1 મકાન, મેઘાણીનગર 2 મકાન, શહેરકોટડા 1 મકાન, સરદારનગર 1 મકાન, દૂર… pic.twitter.com/p30OGTX7ZZ
— Ahmedabad Police અમદાવાદ પોલીસ (@AhmedabadPolice) March 19, 2025
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Vartha Bharati launches Kalyana Karnataka edition, releases 23rd annual special issue in Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi: The Kalyana Karnataka edition of the Kannada daily Vartha Bharati was formally launched on Saturday at a programme held at Dr S M Pandit Rangamandir in Kalaburagi. The event also marked the release of the newspaper’s twenty-third annual special issue, a compilation of selected editorials, and the Kalyana Karnataka special supplement.
The programme was inaugurated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader. The Kalyana Karnataka edition of Vartha Bharati was unveiled by Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor-in-Chief of The Wire.
The twenty-third annual special issue was released by multilingual actor Prakash Raj. The book compiling selected editorials of Vartha Bharati was released by B R Patil, Vice-Chairperson of the State Policy and Planning Commission and MLA from Aland. The Kalyana Karnataka special supplement was released by Rahim Khan, Minister for Municipal Administration and Haj.
ALSO READ: Kalaburagi: ‘Vartha Bharati’ Kalyana Karnataka edition launched
Chairperson of the State Waqf Board and Sajjada Nashin of the Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah, Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ali Al Husseini, and Kalaburagi South MLA Allamaprabhu Patil were present as chief guests.
Among the special invitees on the dais were Koraneshwara Mahaswamiji of the Tontadarya Anubhava Mantapa, Aland; Bishop Rev Fr Robert Miranda of Kalaburagi; Bhante Varajyothi of Anandur; social activist K Neela; farmers’ leader Chamarasa Mali Patil; DSS state convenor D G Sagar; and activist and singer Ambanna Arolikar.
Speaking on the occasion, Assembly Speaker U T Khader said Vartha Bharati had emerged as the voice of the weak and the voiceless in society and had earned the love, trust and confidence of people across the state. He said the newspaper had carved out a distinct identity in the media landscape and expressed happiness that it was now reaching the Kalyana Karnataka region. He added that Vartha Bharati had remained free from political pressures and inducements and expressed hope that it would continue to stand as a support system for the distressed.
B R Patil said running a newspaper in the present times was not easy, as the media sector had increasingly turned into an industry driven by profit. Amidst such challenges, he said, Vartha Bharati had maintained integrity, honesty and commitment throughout its twenty-three-year journey. He expressed confidence that the newspaper would continue on the same path. Referring to Kalaburagi, he noted that the region frequently witnessed agitations due to the large number of unresolved issues, and said Vartha Bharati should continue to bring the problems and suffering of the people to the attention of the government and contribute to finding solutions.
