Surat: Fresh allegations of violations under the Disturbed Areas Act (Ashantdhara) have surfaced in the eastern part of Surat city, with BJP MLA Arvind Rana accusing the local administration of corruption and irregularities in granting property transfer permissions. The MLA has claimed that properties in designated Disturbed Areas Act areas are being transferred to people from other communities through questionable approvals and has demanded the immediate cancellation of such permissions, warning of a public agitation if action is not taken.

The controversy is centred on the Navapura locality, where large-scale property purchases by members of other communities have reportedly triggered local opposition. Submitting a memorandum to the Collector along with members of the Navapura Sangharsh Samiti, Rana said that permissions had previously been restricted in sensitive pockets such as Mani Vaidni Gali. However, a recent approval for property purchase by a member of the Bohra community has led to resentment among residents of the Rana community, who fear demographic changes in the area.

After a meeting at the Collector’s office, Rana said, “In the Hindu-majority area where the Collector had earlier denied permission for the transfer of properties belonging to people of other faiths, approval has now been granted for nearby properties on the conclusion that there is a mosque adjacent to the concerned property. The order states that there is a mosque on one side and the Jagannath Mahadev temple on the other. In reality, there is no mosque there. No on-site inspection has been carried out, and today we have submitted evidence to the Collector proving the existence of the Jagannath Mahadev temple at that location, along with the property documents.”

“Permissions are being granted based on false conclusions, and there is strong and intense opposition from local residents. In particular, some people of other faiths are purchasing different properties, constructing apartments on them, and after the apartments are built, members of the Vora or Muslim community begin living there alongside local residents from the Rana community who have been living there for generations. These locals are engaged in the zari business, work day and night, and support their families. In such a situation, repeated police confrontations and tensions occur due to the arrival of these people. Police are called even during religious festivals, and in some cases, court petitions have been filed by such individuals to shut down zari businesses. Therefore, to ensure that no class conflict arises and taking into account the representation of local residents, we, as elected representatives, have submitted a representation to the Collector today,” Rana said.

Expressing anger against what he termed “official raj,” Rana said officials are not listening to elected representatives. He warned that if concrete action is not taken, a strong agitation will be launched in the near future. DeshGujarat