Gujarat confidential: Captain Out

It was Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s turn to bat at the Swarnim Gujarat MLA Cricket League on March 27 when his team Sabarmati was playing against Team Narmada led by first-time MLA from Viramgam and Patidar youth leader Hardik Patel. Hardik bowled his third ball to the CM when the ball took the outside edge of the bat and the wicket keeper took a catch as Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi was fielding in the slip. As the “Gujarat’s Captain” got out, some spectators shouted “no ball” but in vain. The matches are organised by the department of youth,  sports and cultural activities ministry “to promote unity”.

Selective Silence

Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai while speaking in the Assembly on Monday pointed out how his government has reduced Value Added Tax on CNG and PNG from 15 per cent to five per cent. He also pointed out that the BJP government had reduced VAT on petrol and diesel providing “direct benefit of Rs 10,000 crore to the people of the state”. However, Desai’s speech was silent about the huge cut in VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from 30 per cent to five per cent in 2021-22.