At 'garib mela', minister spots potential BJP workers

Though Garib Kalyan Melas aim at distributing the benefits of various government schemes directly to the poor and needy, this year it seems to have been a platform for political campaign keeping in mind the 2012 assembly elections. For, at the Garib Kalyan Mela at Sanand on Friday, state revenue minister Anandiben Patel was seen asking beneficiaries to work for the BJP. The minister also praised the Narendra Modi government and hit out at the UPA government.

At the mela, it was claimed that 4,109 beneficiaries were given away aids worth Rs8.11 crore, but hundreds of people could not receive their aids as junior officials did not care to do their duties after the minister left.  

Patel, who is also in-charge minister of Ahmedabad district, attended the mela along with BJP MLAs Pragaji Patel from Mandal, Kamabhai Rathod from Viramgam and  Babubhai Jamanadas Patel from Dashkroi. District collector Vijay Nehra and district development officer Banchhanidhi Pani were present.

As per the planned format of the mela, three beneficiaries of government schemes talked about the change that the scheme has made in their life. Patel praised all three women for showing courage to address the gathering and the called them to the dais and said, “Bhajap (BJP) nu Kam karajo.”

The minister said:  “Sanand is going to be one of the most developed talukas in the country. Today, because of such Garib Kalyan Melas during the regime of Narendrabhai, the income of rural people has doubled from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 but yet these people have not been able make both the ends meet. The only reason for this is inflation, which has not been controlled by the Congress-led UPA government.”

She also blamed the media, particularly language newspapers, for misleading people against the government. “There were no newspapers for two days _ New Year and Bhai Beej, but a newspaper printed false news that the state government has hiked electricity rates for farmers by 300%. Don’t get misled by such wrong news as the CM has made it clear that no hike in electricity will be passed on to the farmers; the state government will bear the burden. They (newspapers) are not protesting the price hike in petrol, which was announced for 9th time in a year,” the minister said.

After her speech, the minister started distributing the aids, but as soon as she left the venue with senior officials and political leaders, the beneficiaries were left in the lurch as junior officers were not ready to carry out their duties. Many of the beneficiaries could not get their aids and no officer was there to listen to them and sort out their problems.