Sonia to visit drought-hit areas of Gujarat

VADODARA, APRIL 21: Congress president Sonia Gandhi would visit drought-affected areas of Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat in the first...

VADODARA, APRIL 21: Congress president Sonia Gandhi would visit drought-affected areas of Saurashtra, Kutch and North Gujarat in the first week of May, according to President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) C D Patel.

Patel is here in connection with a rally of party workers to demand rollback of hike in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products.

During her May 3 visit, she will visit the drought-affected areas of Saurashtra and Kutch while on May 6, she will visit drought-prone areas of north Gujarat.

Patel said that Sonia was worried over the grim situation in these drought-prone areas of the state and expressed serious concern over plight of the people.

Two persons had died of starvation while a large number of people are migrating along with their cattle from the drought-affected areas, he alleged.

Pathak allays fear on arms building on Kutch border:Meanwhile, in Ahmedabad, Union Minister of State for Defence Production and Supplies Harin Pathak today allayed fears about arms build-up by Pakistan on the Kutch border in Gujarat.

Talking to reporters here, Pathak said he recently had a discussion with Union Defence Minister George Fernandes about such a movement by the neighbouring country and added, "There is nothing to worry."

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However, he pointed out the work of surveillance, instrument and radar by Pakistan in its territory, saying, "This was part of their defence exercise only and had nothing to do with arms build-up on the border adjoining Gujarat."

On the arrest of Indian fishermen by Pakistan sea guard, Pathak expressed concern and said that such a issue was being taken up by the External Affairs Ministry at a diplomatic and political level.