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Journalism of Courage
Grievances they have many, but one of the things that has riled BJP MLAs is the raiding of their homes and businesses by Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB). MLAs in the anti-Modi camp are alleging that they are being selectively targeted.
There are at least half-a-dozen Keshubhai Patel loyalists, now part of the oust-Modi campaign, who were raided for power theft. Those the raids found clean are crying out loudest.
Dilip Patel, the MLA from Anand, faced four raids last year, two at his factory, and one each at his and his brother’s homes. ‘‘During the last raid on December 22, officials have given us a certificate in which they have admitted in writing that we co-operated,’’ says Patel.
MLA from Gandevi Karsan Patel says, a GEB team raided his Shivam Talkies in Bilimora on February 17 but couldn’t find anything wrong. He says the team left disappointed.
Among those who faced raids in 2004 are Keshubhai’s son Bharat, former Union minister Bhavna Chikhalia and Wankaner MLA Jyotsna Somani. Bharat could not be contacted for details. Chikhalia claims the GEB team found nothing wrong at her husband’s hospital in Junagadh. She said she wasn’t against raids per se, but ‘‘there shouldn’t be political motives attached to it’’.
The rebels say political vendetta was also evident in the way the Halvad house of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh leader Jethabhai Patel was demolished in December. This was when the BKS agitation was at its peak.
‘‘Among the numerous illegal constructions across the town, only my house was chosen to prove a point,’’ he said. ‘‘It was an ugly way of threatening us.’’
