Gujarat Confidential: Prohibition soup

Meeting the President

Following the design and production of the 2026 Republic Day Invitation Kit developed in a collaboration between the National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad, the Rashtrapati Bhavan team, and traditional artisan groups from the eight ‘Ashtalakshmi’ states of the northeast, President Droupadi Murmu recently hosted a special interaction at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to honour the artisans behind the project. The majority of the 80-member artisan delegation from the northeast states comprised people from remote regions, many of them women, who marked their very first journey outside their home states, making their visit to the national capital and the Rashtrapati Bhavan a historic and an emotional moment. The President also engaged in a sit-down interaction with the artisans. The discussion focused on understanding the intricate nuances of their respective crafts, celebrating their traditional knowledge and addressing the ground realities and challenges associated with sustaining craft heritage in the northeastern region.

Network, nexus?

In “dry” Gujarat Gujarat, ruled by the BJP for nearly three decades, BJP MP Mansukh Vasava’s explosive letter addressed to Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Friday  – accusing multiple local politicians and policemen in Narmada district of “enabling” a thriving liquor-smuggling and gambling network – has led to political embarrassment for the party. In his letter, Vasava has alleged that chemical-laced liquor, being smuggled into Narmada and neighbouring areas such as Umalla, Rajpipla, Karjan and Shinor from the Maharashtra border, is “destroying the youths” in the tribal belt. The Bharuch MP, who is known to often flag the alleged availability of alcohol in the state, has named and accused police sub-inspectors posted along key “liquor routes” of “collusion” in the “racket”. The letter demands an independent probe and alleges “inaction” by the Narmada district police on previous complaints by the MP.

Car Pooling

Implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s austerity call, ministers on Wednesday arrived for a Cabinet meeting in Gandhinagar by pooling cars. While the Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia and Minister of State for Forest Pravin Mali came together by Mali’s electric car, the Minister of State for Energy Kaushik Vekariya and Minister of State for Finance Kamlesh Patel pooled a car. At the same time, Energy Minister Rushikesh Patel announced that he would commute between his Assembly constituency, Visnagar, and Gandhinagar in a CNG car.