Anti-encroachment drive in Surat locality that witnessed stone pelting at Ganesh pandal
Surat, Sep 9: The civic authorities in Gujarat's Surat city carried out an anti-encroachment drive involving a bulldozer in Saiyedpura on Monday, hours after the locality witnessed rioting after some minors threw stones at a Ganesh pandal.
Authorities, however, were quick to clarify that the anti-encroachment drive was not linked to the violence on Sunday but was planned weeks in advance.
A bulldozer was pressed into action by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to raze illegal concrete and temporary constructions and remove handcarts of street vendors in the area.
Communal tensions gripped Saiyedpura on Sunday night after a mob of around 200-300 persons gheraoed a police station and pelted stones to protest against the detention of six minors accused of throwing stones at a Ganesh pandal.
There was heavy police deployment in the locality, from where 28 persons were arrested, and six minors were detained on charges of rioting and attempted murder after some persons, including policemen, were injured in stone pelting.
Surat deputy mayor Narendra Patil maintained that the anti-encroachment drive had been planned some two weeks ago, and it had nothing to do with the clash on Sunday night.
He said encroachment was a long-standing problem in Saiyedpura, which has a Muslim-majority population, and local corporators had complained about the same.
"The decision to remove encroachments was made in a meeting 15 days ago. Saiyedpura is worst affected by illegal encroachment, and all four local corporators requested action. They had pointed out that people had no space to walk in the locality due to encroachment," Patil told PTI.
He said coordinated action was being taken zone-wise, and action would be taken in all areas facing the encroachment problem.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Patel justified the civic body's action in the area and said the government should ensure strict action against elements that cause rioting without provocation.
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RS proceedings adjourned till Monday amid opposition protest over Adani, other issues
New Delhi (PTI): Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Friday as opposition MPs protested the rejection of adjournment notices for a discussion on allegations against the Adani Group, and the violence in Manipur and Sambhal.
The House will meet again on Monday.
Soon after laying of listed papers in the morning session, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he had received 17 notices for adjournment of scheduled business under Rule 267 of the House.
The Chairman said he was rejecting all the notices.
This led to a protest by several opposition MPs who began raising slogans. Expressing anguish, Dhankhar said, "I call upon you (MPs) for deep reflection. Rule 267 is being weaponised as a mechanism of disruption".
The remark was protested by opposition MPs including those belonging to the Congress.
Before adjourning the proceedings for the day, he said similar issues had been raised repeatedly, leading to a loss of three working days.
The notices from MPs belonging to opposition parties were for discussion on allegations of corruption and wrongdoings against the Adani Group, communal violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and ethnic clashes in Manipur.
It was the fourth day in a row of the ongoing Winter Session that the House did not carry out substantial business.
