News in brief from across Gujarat

Ahmedabad, 26 August 2014

-Gujarat Congress today changed its candidate on Tankara seat. Instead of earlier announced candidate Dilip Sardava, Congress has now decided to field Lalit Kagthara. The change has been made after announcement of the names of BJP candidates today.

-The Supreme Court today said it would consider lifting order staying the pronouncement of judgement by the trial court in one of the 2002 riot cases in Gujarat in which three British nationals were killed by a mob after knowing that they belonged to a particular community.

-India’s Appellate Tribunal for Electricity dismissed an appeal by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. to reduce the solar- power tariff as devoid of merits, according to a copy of the judgment. That upholds an August 2013 decision by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission.

-Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tweeted that: On 30th August I will begin my visit to Japan. I am keenly looking forward to the visit, which will boost relations between our two nations. Japan visit will be my first bilateral visit outside the subcontinent. I was to visit in early July but could not due to parliament session. I see the Japan visit as an opportunity to take our ties with Japan to a new level and increase cooperation in various fields. I will visit Tokyo and Kyoto and will interact with all sections of Japanese society from students, political leaders to captains of industry. I have very warm memories of visiting Japan as a Chief Minister. The hospitality and the immense scope for cooperation left a deep impression on my mind. The scale of innovation and level of precision among the people of Japan is admirable. Both our national can learn a lot from each other. I am particularly excited to meet Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. I deeply respect his leadership and enjoy a warm relationship with him from previous meetings. Japan’s friendship with India is time tested. We are two vibrant democracies committed to advancing peace and prosperity in the world.

-Congress party has selected Narendra Rawat as candidate for Vadodara Lok Sabha elections. Congress has decided to field Pravinbhai Vala on Talaja seat. Govabhai Rabari has been nominated as candidate of Deesa seat. Vimal Chudasama and Kalubhai Parmar are candidates who have been given mandate to contest from Mangrol and Matar seats respectively.

-The case related to alleged election code violation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today transferred to the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Ahmedabad Rural Court here, from the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM). ACJM M M Sheikh had written a letter on August 22 to CJM U M Bhatt of Ahmedabad Rural Court, seeking his decision on which court would have the jurisdiction to hear the case. Sheikh pointed out that the original case related to the issue was heard by Ahmedabad City Metropolitan Court. CJM Bhatt today told advocate K R Koshti, lawyer of the applicant Nishant Verma, that he would be hearing the case from now on.

-Vadodara court has summoned Shankaracharya of Dwarka in a case related to Shankaracharya’s remarks on Sai Baba.

-AAM Aadmi Party has decided not to contest by-polls in Gujarat and to focus only on Delhi for now.

-Gujarat High Court has admitted a public interest litigation against “illegal” toll tax collected at toll booths in Gujarat, however the court refused to give stay against toll tax collection.

-CBI has started massive operation against India’s top bank defaulters who are also top contributors to NPA. CBI is already probing India’s number two NPA contributor and defaulter Jatin Mehta of Winsome Jewels(also Forever jewels). CBI has now raided Ahmedabad headquartered and Bhandari brothers owned Electrotherm group at around nine locations for dubious transactions worth over Rs. 400 crore in connection with a case filed by Central Bank of India.