Gujarat confidential: Confusion galore

Absent,Sir!

The BJP leaders had organised a memorial lecture to mark the 60th death anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee at its state head office Sunday. One expected it to be a grand occasion filled with patriotism. But barely a few gave up the Sunday morning with their families to remember his sacrifice in Kashmir sixty years ago for the cause of “one nation one legislation”. The venue had very few people,just of the strength of a normal classroom. This made it seem like a low-key affair,not befitting the memory of a great soul. All the elected office-bearers of the AMC were conspicuous in their absence while some ex office-bears took trouble to arrive apart from a few sitting and former MLAs.

The popular cop

Conflict of interest can put a person in a spot. A classic example of this could be witnessed at the recent tractor rally protest of farmers from the proposed Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (SIR),while it was passing the Gujarat High Court (HC). The HC being a sensitive location,a large number of police force was deployed. A police official on duty on the roadside was cheered by the protestors while being asked to join them. A journalist standing next to him,out of curiosity,asked the cop as to why he was so popular among the protesters. “I belong to one of the 44 villages (where the SIR is proposed),” he said. “40 bigha of my land is proposed to be acquired by the state government,” he added. The cop immediately asked the journalist his identity and changed his position on discovering his identity. Any guesses,why?

‘Atma’ in trouble

The ATMA House at Ashram Road,inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961,seems to be going through a listless phase lately. Apparel giants of the city had last convened at this building in July 2012 to broker truce with striking textile workers. However,these days the building wears a deserted look with its office bearers on extended summer vacations. A source claims that once the figurehead of the industry,the ATMA hardly undertakes any work related to the textile industry anymore. Despite its policy of letting out space for exhibitions and public gatherings,there are hardly any takers,making one wonder if a change in the name is in order.