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Journalism of Courage
Carved out in 2013 from areas of the neighbouring Rajkot and Surendranagar districts, Morbi is among the newestdistricts of Gujarat. However, for long, Morbi has been known for its ceramic tiles and sanitaryware industries.
According to the Gujarat government, the district accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the country’s ceramic production and also produces 75 per cent of the country’s wall-clocks. It exports ceramics to 180 countries.
The district also houses the leading wall clock-maker Ajanta Manufacturing Private Ltd, owned by the Oreva Group, which was founded by Odhavji Patel, the father of Jaysukh Patel — the key accused in the Morbi bridge tragedy.
A respected name among the Patidars, Odhavji has been credited with changing the face of the town. Many continue to sing paeans of the philanthropic work he had done. There are many who are sympathetic towards Jaysukh’s situation today.
A businessman who is a member of the Morbi Ceramic Association, on the condition of anonymity, said, “What happened was shocking and sad. But we must keep in mind that it was the government that had handed the bridge over to Oreva Group for operating it. It was not something that Oreva acquired or was in ownership of. It was being operated by Oreva Group as a symbol of the town’s pride, not for profit purposes. The bridge was in the government’s ownership and I think that means the municipality has some responsibility towards it and must also be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, on October 10, the Umiya Manav Seva Trust – Morbi, an NGO run by Patidars, reached out to some of the victim families, informing them of a Mega Blood Donation Camp that was due to be organised on October 18, to mark the 11th death anniversary of Odhavji.
Urging them to donate blood, the communication noted, “The Jhulto Pul accident was an extremely sad incident for you and we share your grief and offer our sympathies. The service provided through the “Mega Blood Donation” is dedicated to those who left us and to their departed souls. We pray from our heart that through this service of a ‘Mega Blood Donation’ camp, the souls rest in peace…and we hope you and your family will join this programme of service”.
An industry leader in Morbi said the blood donation drive saw record turnout with around 20,000 units collected. However, a member of the Morbi Tragedy Victims Association — an association of next of kin of 110 of the deceased — say they did not participate in the drive.
In January, while hearing the Morbi bridge collapse case, the Gujarat High Court had pulled up the Morbi municipality and orally alluded that the municipality worked in collusion with the company leading to the tragedy.
On the other hand, the next of kin of many deceased do not shy away from expressing their disappointment at what they perceive as a “covert support” for Jaysukh who surrendered before the police only in January, almost three months after the collapse. His bail plea remains pending before HC.
Recent statements by other political leaders from the Opposition and social leaders, in what has been perceived as tacit support for Jaysukh, also have not gone down well with the families of the deceased.
Recently, on the last day of a Ram Katha held in Morbi from September 30 to October 8 for “peace of those killed” in the bridge collapse, popular kathakar Morari Bapu had recounted how a “next of kin” of a deceased told him that “they wished the accused persons get to spend the Diwali with their families”. The event, which was mainly hosted by Rajkot Lok Sabha MP Mohan Kundariya that includes parts of Morbi, and Tankara BJP MLA Durlabhji Dethariya, also saw state BJP chief CR Paatil in attendance.
“Jaysukh should celebrate Diwali but when do we get to celebrate our Diwali? This pain will go away only when we leave this Earth,” says an inconsolable Shardaben Solanki who lost her 22-year-old elder son Naresh Solanki to the tragedy. Naresh, who was employed at a ceramic unit was the sole breadwinner of their family comprising his ailing father Bhikhabhai Solanki (60), mother Shardaben (50) and his 19-year-old younger brother.
“The state government is making Jaysukh a scapegoat in the Morbi bridge collapse case while shielding its own senior officials,” Gujarat Congress working president Lalit Kagathara had said days after the SIT report was made public.
Last week, former Congress MLA from Dhoraji seat in Rajkot, Lalit Vasoya toed a similar line. “The government, in order to save itself, has made a scapegoat of someone and conspired to put them behind the bars. This can be clearly seen from the SIT report… I’m not trying to shield Oreva Group owner Jaysukhbhai, but equally responsible for this incident are Morbi Collector, Chief Officer and other officials. The charges against Jaysukhbhai must also be against the Collector and other officials,” said Vasoya. Congress MLA Kirit Patel also echoed similar sentiments
Currently, the Morbi municipality has no elected general body after the BJP-ruled body was superseded in April for “incompetence” in view of the bridge collapse. A petition moved by a councillor of the municipality Jentibhai Ghatiliya challenging the supersession is pending before the High Court.
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