Gujarat Confidential

Clearly,Mr Singh has had enough face-off with protests on several issues in recent times,so much that he has got the security cover of the university main building and his bungalow increased to keep slogan-shouting protesters at bay. But this seems to have little effect on protesters,who are emboldened these days after a multi-crore financial fraud came to light in which money from university account was found diverted to other account using stolen cheque and fraudulent signatures. Congress says the MSU administration and academics have been hijacked by the BJP and the scam has only caught the administration napping. But unable to shout slogans in front of the V-C due to increased security cover,the Congress protesters have resorted to cartooning and peaceful protests. Their latest protest is by way of a cartoon that shows the V-C surrounded by “parrots” representing BJP members with a policeman keeping protesters from entering his office. But the parrots here are not “caged!”

Canada calling ‘IT’ boys

Even as Gujarat’s IT industry rues the lack of an IT policy,some city-based IT evangelists are taking their optimism to Canada to attend and hobnob with some of the leading innovators and technocrats of Canada in a two-day conference to be held in the end of May. Seeing the exuberant participation of young innovators in separate start-up technology events held in the city in a span of two months,a three member team led by Founder of PAN IIT Gujarat Alumni,Sunil Parekh will visit Canada’s two-day innovation conference in Ontario to showcase Gujarat’s potential in new technologies and innovations. While one may wonder what slides the presentation may have to show for IT in the state,Parikh added that “IT will only be a small component”. Thankfully the trio would also be focussing on new technologies,hospitality,healthcare,life sciences,mobile applications among other things in context of the state. The two-day annual event will gather together some of the industry heavyweights in the field of innovation apart from showcasing Canada’s leading edge technologies,best practices and research in Ontario. Considering that Canada has partnered with the state government on Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2013,it looks like there is hardly a need to “hard sell” Gujarat!

PROTECTION FROM LAND MAFIA

Vadodara Collector Vinod Rao has ruffled feathers of many a builder and land mafioso by invoking PASA against persons like Sanju Bharambe and Brijesh Chauhan,among several others in the last few months. Acting on complaints of land grabbing by powerful builder lobbies received from victimised farmers,Rao got some land dealers behind bars,but in the process has earned their wrath,as is evident from the increased security of his office and bungalows seen since last few days. To ensure his safety,city police has deployed three armed policemen each to guard his bungalow and office. Not just that,the entire collectorate has been covered under the CCTV camera surveillance. The move of enhanced security comes close on the heels of Rao invoking PASA against two builder brothers,Brijesh and Jay Chauhan,who are currently underground fearing arrest. Soon after coming under PASA,the brothers stated that the collector was corrupt,their statement covered prominently by the local media. The builders have been found to be allegedly involved in fraudulent land deals worth crores of rupees by duping “illiterate,gullible” farmers.