Vadodara: With only five days remaining before the local civic polling date, residents of the Navapura area in Vadodara have launched a protest against the failure to implement the Ashant Dhara (Disturbed Areas Act) in their locality. Banners have been erected across the neighbourhood with a clear message: “No implementation of the Disturbed Areas Act, then complete boycott of elections,” along with a warning to political candidates not to enter the area for campaigning.

Residents of RV Desai Road, which comprises approximately 72 Hindu societies and apartment complexes, are demanding that the Act be enforced to prevent the sale of properties to individuals of other faiths. Locals claim that while the Act is active in nearby Muslim-majority areas, their specific pocket has been excluded, leading to property sales and ongoing construction that they believe should be restricted.

Vikulbhai, a local resident, said, “This has been our demand since 2002. While the Disturbed Areas Act is active in almost all parts of Vadodara, it is not being properly enforced here. The law is intended to ensure that in Hindu areas, people of other faiths do not acquire property and cause harassment. We are asking why the 72 Hindu societies here are not covered under this Act.”

Another resident said they had taken their grievances all the way to Gandhinagar to meet Dy CM Harsh Sanghavi. They were told to start the process from the grassroots level, following which they submitted applications at the Navapura police station, but have received no support from any political party or individual. “No leader has come to talk to us, even now during election time. We need a written assurance; otherwise, we will not participate in the voting,” he added.

The local community has stated that it will boycott the polls, citing a lack of response from the authorities despite years of representation. As the election deadline approaches, the warning remains: no political party will be welcomed in the area until the Ashant Dhara is implemented. DeshGujarat