Polls in sight, Jogi’s son in makeover bid

Leading lights of the business community in Raipur last week received an invitation to attend a meeting to discuss their problems. Two days ...

Leading lights of the business community in Raipur last week received an invitation to attend a meeting to discuss their problems. Two days later, a similar invitation came to the doors of local lawyers and members of the Bar Council. But what was unusual about the invitation was not the purpose of the meetings but who extended the invitation.

Amit Jogi, Chief Minister Ajit Jogi’s son who has often been in the news for all the wrong reasons, is trying to build a new image for himself. And with the elections near, the timing couldn’t be more significant. In a bid to widen his circle of interactions, Amit, who turned 24 just three days back, plans to hold over a dozen meetings with professionals — doctors, engineers, lawyers, traders — and various social organisations.

‘‘I want to play a pro-active role in improving town life, and understand the problems faced by these leading groups of citizens,’’ he says, denying any ‘‘political agenda’’ behind his move.

Story continues below this ad

Amit met industrialists and businessmen last week at the VIP Club on the outskirts of Raipur. The meeting discussed problems of vehicular traffic, drinking water, bad roads, parking and the disparities in tax being charged by Chhattisgarh and its neighbouring states. The industrialists also pointed out that the some of the oldest industrial belts like Khamtarai, Rawabhatta and Banpuri in Raipur’s periphery are facing continuous government neglect even after the formation of Chhattisgarh.

The Chief Minister’s son listened patiently to their tales of woe before coming up with the idea of forming a citizens’s forum to take up major issues with the government.

The meeting with lawyers hosted by president of the local Jama Masjid Haji Abdul Ajeem Bhondu, who is a close relation of Food and Supplies Minister Mohammad Akbar, too discussed problems faced by lawyers in the district courts’ complex. The lawyers were assured that their problems would be looked into.

While Amit Jogi denies there was any political motive behind the meetings, he did not forget to list the achievements of the Ajit Jogi government in the last 33 months.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘I didn’t discuss any politics in the meetings. They were purely professional meetings,’’ Amit claims.

It was not long ago that the senior Jogi organised dinner meetings at his residence for members of different castes — Punjabis, Bengalis, Gujaratis, Jains, Maharashtrians, Muslims, Sindhis, Brahmins and Aggarwals. He also played host recently to Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopa Nand who stayed at the CM’s house.

Nagamallaiah, the victim, who is originally from Karnataka, was attacked by his co-worker-- Yordanis Cobos-Martinez at the Downtown Suites motel where he worked.

Indian-origin motel manager from Karnataka beheaded in US; co-worker arrested

World3 hr ago

A 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager was beheaded in front of his wife and teenage son in US's Dallas, after a dispute over a broken washing machine, according to the Dallas Police Department. The incident took place on Wednesday morning at the Downtown Suites motel in Dallas.

View all shorts

Live Blog