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Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Gujarat to celebrate state-level I-Day event in Porbandar
Ahmedabad: Gujarat's state-level Independence Day celebrations this year will be held in Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. On August 15, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will preside over the flag-hoisting ceremony, marking the 78th anniversary of India's freedom. As per the General Administration Department, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary will lead the celebrations in Mehsana, while cabinet ministers and district collectors will oversee events across other districts. Senior ministers have been assigned to key locations - Kanubhai Desai in Navsari, Rishikesh Patel in Sabarkantha, Raghavji Patel in Jamnagar, Balvantsinh Rajput in Valsad, Kunwarji Bavaliya in Gir Somnath, Mulubhai Bera in Devbhoomi Dwarka, Dr. Kuber Dindor in Panchmahal, and Bhanu Babariya in Rajkot. Deputy Speaker Jetha Ahir will be in Mahisagar district, while Ministers of State Harsh Sanghavi, Jagdish Vishwakarma, Mukesh Patel, Bhikhusinh Parmar, and Kunwarji Halpati will lead the ceremonies in Gandhinagar, Morbi, Bharuch, Kheda, and Tapi, respectively. In the remaining districts, the respective collectors will hoist the national flag and preside over the programs. The celebrations are expected to include cultural performances, patriotic songs, and tributes to freedom fighters, reinforcing Gujarat's role in India's independence story and its continuing commitment to democratic values. Porbandar's history goes far beyond being just the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi; it has been a hub of maritime trade, cultural exchange, and political significance for centuries. Once a prosperous princely state under the Jethwa Rajputs, Porbandar had strong trade links with Arabia, Africa, and Europe through its port. Its coastline made it a key player in Gujarat's seafaring legacy, contributing to the spread of Indian culture overseas. But its most enduring mark on history came on October 2, 1869, when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born here. The town became a touchstone in India's freedom story, as Gandhi's upbringing in Porbandar, with its blend of tradition, spirituality, and coastal cosmopolitanism, helped shape his worldview. Porbandar also hosted various reformist movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the region's thinkers and leaders influencing debates on education, women's rights, and social reform. By choosing Porbandar for Gujarat's state-level Independence Day celebration, the government is not just honouring Gandhi but also spotlighting a city that has long stood at the crossroads of India's historical, cultural, and political journey.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Gujarat Congress Vice President Hira Jotva grilled by police over Rs 7.3 crore MNREGA scam
AHMEDABAD: An assistant project manager has flagged a shocking MNREGA scam worth Rs 7.3 crore across villages in Gujarat's Bharuch district, Amod, Jambusar, and Hansot Taluka. Acting on the complaint, Bharuch police have now summoned Congress leader Hira Jotva from Gir Somnath for questioning. Sources indicate that police may move toward arresting him following the interrogation. The Rs 7.30 crore fraud, spanning 430 development works across 56 villages in Amod, Jambusar, and Hansot talukas, was first flagged on May 30 by a government official from the Gram Vikas Agency, who filed a formal complaint at Bharuch's A Division Police Station. The investigation zeroed in on two Veraval-based firms — Shri Jalaram Enterprise and Muralidhar Enterprise — contracted for supplying material under MNREGA projects. These agencies allegedly manipulated records, provided substandard material, and bypassed mandatory manual labour by using machines, thereby violating the core principles of the rural employment scheme and causing massive losses to the state exchequer. Police identified Piyush Nukani, owner of Shri Jalaram Enterprise, and Jodhabhai Sabhad, owner of Muralidhar Enterprise, as key players in the racket.
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Ahmedabad plane crash: 190 DNA matches confirmed, 157 bodies handed over
AHMEDABAD: Six days after the devastating Ahmedabad plane crash, the sole survivor Vishwas Kumar has been discharged from the hospital in stable condition, confirmed Dr. Rakesh Joshi, Civil Hospital Superintendent. Kumar's family, who had flown in from the UK, was present at his side. The body of Kumar's brother, who was killed in the crash, was handed over to the family at 2 am on the same day, and a funeral was held for him in Diu. As of now, DNA samples of 190 deceased individuals have been successfully matched. In a detailed briefing, Dr. Joshi stated that 157 bodies have already been handed over to their respective families, with the identification and release process still underway for the remaining. He noted that five families are expected to collect the bodies of their loved ones soon, while the hospital remains in contact with 10 families. Meanwhile, 15 families are waiting for DNA matches of additional relatives, and the identification process is ongoing for three others. Dr. Joshi also revealed a detailed breakdown of the nationalities among the deceased whose bodies have been identified: 123 Indian nationals, 27 British citizens, 4 Portuguese nationals, 1 Canadian citizen, and 4 non-passengers. In terms of geographical distribution, he reported that the bodies handed over include: Ahmedabad (48), Vadodara (18), Kheda (10), Anand (11), Gandhinagar (6), Surat (6), Mehsana (5), Udaipur (6), Bharuch (5), Gir Somnath (5), Diu (12), Mahisagar (1), Bhavnagar (1), Patan (1), Botad (1), Aravalli (2), Jodhpur (1), Junagadh (1), Amreli (1), Rajkot (2), Nadiad (1), Dwarka (2), Sabarkantha (1), Mumbai (7), London (2), Patna (1), and Maharashtra (2).
