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Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Vadodara civic body's General Board meeting adjourned over Pahalgam deaths; 66th ‘adjournment for mourning' in four years
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC)'s General Board, which was meeting for the first time in the current financial year on Thursday, was adjourned within a few minutes in mourning for the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack as well as the martyred soldiers and civilians in the Operation Sindoor besides the recent deaths of two political leaders. With this, the meeting became the 66th such General Board to be 'adjourned in mourning' since its formation in March 2021, following the local civic body polls. So far, the current board has seen 40% adjournments with leaders of Opposition stating that they were mere excuses by the ruling party to put off issues that could create an uproar against it. On Thursday, Mayor Pinky Soni said, 'The proceedings of the General Board…have been adjourned after observing two minutes of silence in mourning of the victims of April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam as well as the martyred soldiers and civilians during Operation Sindoor, which was in response to the Pahalgam attack. We also mourned the deaths of former Union Minister Girija Vyas and former Gujarat Health minister Hema Acharya. This is as per the practice of VMC. The next General Board will be held on May 19.' Records of the VMC, accessed by The Indian Express, show that since the formation of the current BJP-led board in March 2021, following the civic body polls in February that year, a total of 183 General Board meetings — including the one on Thursday — had been convened. Of these, 66 were adjourned (see box) for mourning the deaths of public figures or tragedies such as the Morbi bridge collapse in 2022, Harni Boat tragedy in Vadodara in January 2024, and Rajkot TRP game zone fire in May 2024. Among the personalities whose deaths resulted in adjournment were Vadodara-based former India cricket coach Anshuman Gaekwad, actor Manoj Kumar, singers Lata Mangeshkar, Purushottam Upadhyay and Anoop Jalota, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. An official of the VMC tells The Indian Express, 'We generally pay tribute to departed former Prime Ministers, former Chief Ministers, former Union and state cabinet Ministers, local elected representatives and other personalities who have been conferred with national awards such as Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna. Apart from this any major tragedy, anywhere in the country, that results in loss of life and casualty is also taken into consideration.' The official further said, 'There is no written rule but it has been a practice since the inception of the VMC… The practices also differ from one corporation to another. It could also depend on the leaders of the board, who may decide to pay a silent homage and continue with the proceedings. But it has not happened in a long time.' As per the rules of Proceedings of the Corporation, under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act (GPMC), 1964, it is mandatory for 'at least one ordinary' General Board meeting to be convened each month, 'which shall be held not later than the twentieth day of the month'. At VMC, generally the General Board meetings that see actual discussions spill over to the following month. The official says, 'The meeting of May 15 was originally meant for the month of April as the meeting held the previous month as per the GPMC provisions was also adjourned for some reason (Deesa tragedy and the death of actor Manoj Kumar)… So, the next General Board meeting on May 19 will see one session from 5pm to 6pm, which will be the meeting for the month of April to discuss pending works and then, 6pm onwards, (it will be held) for the month of May as per the rules, before the 20th of the month.' As per the GPMC, the mayor can adjourn the meetings 'with the consent of majority of councillors present… to a later hour on the same day or to any other day… but no business shall be transacted (except exceptions provided) and no proposition shall be discussed at any adjourned meeting other than the business or proposition remaining undisposed of the meeting from which the adjournment took place'. Notably, each corporator of the VMC receives an honorarium of Rs 500 per meeting for up to five meetings — including General Board, Standing Committee or other Committee meetings — held during the month. 'Whether the meeting goes on or is adjourned, the corporators get paid Rs 500 per meeting. The limit is Rs 2,500 per corporator per month. So, those who are members of other committees can receive the honorarium for up to five meetings per month. In several months, up to three General Board meetings are called due to adjournments… For instance, the General Board meeting on May 19 will be counted as two separate meetings — one for April and one for the month of May, with regard to the honorarium,' the official said. Even as VMC maintains that adjourning the General Boards to condole deaths of public figures is an 'unchangeable practice', several leaders have urged the civic body to break the tradition and conduct public work after paying homage to the departed persons. In August 2024, in a letter to the Vadodara mayor, BJP corporators Ashish Joshi (before he was suspended from the party earlier this month), Parul Patel, Punam Shah and Snehal Patel had said that the VMC 'must not adjourn' its General Board meeting 'to mourn' their deaths whenever the day arises. The letter came days after VMC had ignored the request of late Congress leader and former deputy mayor Chirag Zaveri's wife to not adjourn the General Board meeting but rather continue with public work as a 'homage' to the departed leader, who passed away in July 2024. The BJP corporators wrote, 'It has been a practice of VMC to pay homage to victims of tragedies and departed elected representatives by adjourning the proceedings of the General Board. Since April 1, 2024, 50 per cent of the General Board meetings have been adjourned in mourning and so, there is a feeling that this practice needs to change.' In April, Mayor Soni orally announced during the General Board meeting that the practice of conducting two meetings per month was to be 'ceased' in line with the convention followed in other Municipal Corporations in the state of holding only one meeting per month. An official said that in Ahmedabad and Surat, the Municipal Corporations rarely adjourn an entire day's work in 'mourning' as it has been a practice to hold only one General Board meeting per month. The Congress leaders, who have also sat on dharnas on the floor of the General Board protesting adjournments on at least three occasions in the last one-and-a-half years feel that the meetings could be adjourned for some time but work should be conducted for most part of the day. The Leader of Opposition in VMC, Chandrakant Shrivastav, says, 'Initially, we used to have four meetings a month to discuss issues. Now the BJP has decided and passed down instructions to their elected leaders to have only one meeting… So accordingly, the Mayor has made the announcement to that effect. People of Vadodara have given the BJP a mandate but they do not want to give people's representatives a chance to raise issues. It is our job to draw their attention to the shortcomings of the system but they do not want to hear or allow us to be heard…' Congress leader Ami Ravat feels that adjournments in mourning are an 'excuse' to put off issues that could create an uproar against the ruling party. Ravat says, 'Some times, the meetings are adjourned and put off for over a month because they want to delay (discussions on) burning issues and are looking for reasons to prevent the Opposition from asking questions, under the excuse of paying homage. There are so many public figures, we can pay homage (to them) and continue our work… We have had a practice where the General Board is held on two days for discussion and passing resolutions, which is good… Even if there is an adjournment, the meetings should be held in the same month on the next working day, and not weeks later when people have no memory of the issue.' Despite repeated attempts, Mayor Soni did not revert to calls and text messages seeking comments on the issue.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Girija Vyas death brings Gehlot, Raje together
Udaipur saw a rare political spectacle last Friday as top leaders gathered to pay tribute to veteran Congress leader Girija Vyas. But it wasn't just the condolences that grabbed headlines - it was the unexpected sight of arch-rivals Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje Scindia sharing the VIP lounge at the airport. The two former CMs, rarely seen together in public, stood side by side, prompting raised eyebrows and hushed chatter. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and LoP Tikaram Jully were also present, but the Gehlot-Raje frame stole the show. Clearly, the death of Girija Vyas, considered one of Rajasthan's most graceful leaders, managed to conjure a gracious togetherness rapidly disappearing in Indian politics. MLA caught red-handed with bribe money In a sensational first in Rajasthan politics, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Banswara MLA Jaikrishna Patel red-handed while accepting a bribe. The Bharat Adivasi Party leader allegedly demanded a whopping `2.5 crore to withdraw questions he raised in the Assembly about the mining department. The deal was reportedly finalised at his official residence in Jaipur. When a trap was laid, his gunman was caught collecting `20 lakh on his behalf. But here's the clincher: according to the ACB DG, Patel's hands turned colour when washed, confirming contact with the tainted cash. 'We have video proof of him handling the money,' ACB said. Katha storyteller's eventful Jaipur visit Storyteller Pradeep Mishra made waves in Jaipur after he abruptly halted his seven-day Katha on Day 3, blaming lack of support from the administration 'unlike in Uttar Pradesh.' A meeting with top officials, including the Collector and Police Commissioner, followed. Soon, Mishra released a video saying the katha would resume, and photos of him with CM Bhajanlal Sharma and MLA Balmukund Acharya surfaced, adding a political twist. Earlier, Mishra had sparked backlash by telling girls to avoid showing their navels, comparing it to a dying Tulsi plant. Days ago, he raised eyebrows by likening Amit Shah to Lord Shiva. Spiritual discourses to controversies - Mishra's Jaipur visit had it all. Rajesh Asnani Our correspondent in Jaipur
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Last rites of Girija Vyas performed in Udaipur; Gehlot pays tribute
Udaipur: The funeral of former Union minister and senior Congress leader Girija Vyas took place in Udaipur Friday. Her nephew, Vivek Sharma, performed the last rites at Ashok Nagar Mokshdham following Vedic traditions, with 104 hymns recited. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Earlier, the funeral procession saw the participation of several politicians from Congress and BJP, including former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who shouldered the bier. Vyas passed away Thursday around 7.15pm at Zydus Hospital in Ahmedabad. Her body was brought to Udaipur late at night and kept at her residence in Daityamagra for final respects Friday. On March 31, Dr Vyas was performing Gangaur puja at home when her scarf caught fire from a lamp. A worker at her home managed to help her, and she was taken to a private hospital in Udaipur. She was later referred to Ahmedabad, where her condition worsened due to 90% burns. Her brother, Gopal Sharma, mentioned that her health was initially improving but deteriorated again two days before her death on May 1. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter expressing her grief at the death. "I am shocked due to the sudden demise of Girija Vyas after a month-long treatment following the fire tragedy happened with her. Her passing away is a loss for the Congress party, literature fraternity. Her contribution in social, political and education field will be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved family," Gandhi said in her letter. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on X termed the death "extremely sad." "An intellectual politician, an influential orator and an able administrator, her demise is an irreparable loss to the Congress family," he said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Vyas became an MLA in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly at the age of just 25. She remained a part of the Congress for the next four decades. She would have completed 79 in July. Former Speaker of the Assembly and senior Congress leader CP Joshi visited Vyas's home to offer floral tributes and comfort her brother. Former Congress Working Committee member and ex-MP from Udaipur, Raghuveer Singh Meena, along with his wife, former Salumbar MLA Basanti Meena, also paid their respects. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Tika Ram Jully participated in a meeting held ahead of the funeral procession. Udaipur BJP MP Mannalal Rawat visited Vyas's home to pay his last respects and placed flowers. Dr Rawat expressed that her passing is a significant loss to the political arena.
India Gazette
02-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"May her soul rest in peace": Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Girija Vyas demise
ANI 02 May 2025, 11:06 GMT+10 Udaipur (Rajasthan) [India], May 2 (ANI): Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the demise of former Union Minister Girija Vyas while speaking to reporters on Friday. Gehlot said that he had known Vyas from the days when she was the vice president of the Udaipur District Congress in the 1980s. He said that she played a crucial role in strengthening Congress and the accident has shocked him. The Congress leader stated that he was in touch with his family when she was in the hospital and went to meet her. 'I have known her since she was the vice president of Udaipur District Congress in the 80s... She has served the state and the country through various posts in Congress. She played a crucial role in strengthening Congress. The accident has shaken everybody up... I was in touch with her since she was in the hospital in Ahmedabad. I went to meet her too. The doctor told me that she is in a highly critical condition... May her soul rest in peace and her family gets the strength to bear this loss', Ashok Gehlot told reporters. According to reports, Vyas recently suffered severe burns in a fire while performing the aarti at her home in Udaipur. Girija Vyas, a seasoned Congress party leader, has held prominent roles in both state and central governments. She has served as the state president of Congress in Rajasthan and chaired the National Women's Commission. Throughout her political career, Vyas has held several key positions within Congress. In 1991, she made her way to Parliament by securing a victory from the Udaipur Lok Sabha constituency. She also served as a union minister for the government led by Narasimha Rao. Girija Vyas was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha from Rajasthan's Chittorgarh constituency. (ANI)
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Business Standard
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Ex-Union minister Girija Vyas dies at 79; Rajasthan CM condoles her demise
The Congress leader was performing aarti on March 31 during which her dupatta caught fire from a burning lamp and she suffered critical burn injuries Press Trust of India Udaipur/Jaipur Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Girija Vyas, who suffered burn injuries in March while performing aarti at her home in Udaipur, has died at a hospital in Ahmedabad, her family said on Thursday. She was 79. Vyas's brother Gopal Sharma said that she succumbed to burn injuries at the Ahmedabad hospital this evening. The Congress leader was performing aarti on March 31 during which her dupatta caught fire from a burning lamp and she suffered critical burn injuries. She was rushed to a private hospital in Udaipur and was later shifted to Ahmedabad. Her funeral will be conducted in Udaipur on Friday, Sharma said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former CM Ashok Gehlot, and Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra expressed grief over the death of Vyas. Sharma said Vyas's life was dedicated to public service and that she will always be remembered as a popular leader due to her gentle behaviour. The chief minister prayed to God to give a place to the departed soul in his feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this grief. In a post in Hindi on X, former CM Gehlot said, "The demise of former Union minister and former Congress state president Dr Girija Vyas is an irreparable loss for all of us." He further said, "Dr Girija Vyas had made a great contribution in the field of education, politics and social service. Her untimely demise in such an accident is a big shock for all of us." Congress state president Dotasra said on X, "The news of the demise of senior Congress leader and former PCC president Dr Girija Vyas ji, who was a Union Minister, is extremely sad." "The demise of Girija ji is an irreparable loss to the Congress family, her contribution to the progress of the Congress party and the state will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to Girija ji's family and fans," he said. Vyas was a prominent Congress leader who served as a minister in both the state and central governments. She was also the PCC chief. She also served as the chairperson of the National Commission for Women. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
