Congress to soon come out with modalities for non-reserved categories

The Congress on Saturday reiterated its support for reservation for non reserved categories in education and jobs. Party leader Arjun Modhwadia said they will soon come out with modalities.

"We have categorically stated earlier that Congress is in favour of 20 per cent reservation for children from poor non-reserved categories. We will come out with the modalities and clear whatever doubt there is," Modhwadia said while replying to a question on Congress' response to Patidaar leader Hardik Patel's tweet on Saturday.

Patel's tweet asked the Congress to make its stand clear on how it plans to faciliate reservation to Patidaars. Hardik has also given a November 3 deadline, failing which the Congress' function in Surat will face the same fate as that of BJP president Amit Shah.

Hardik has sought reservation for Patidaar or Patel community in education and jobs. The ruling-BJP government in Gujarat did not accept the demand and Hardik is now in talks with the Congress.

He has also courted controversy on secretly meeting Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during the latter's visit to Gujarat. If Hardik joins OBC leader Alpesh Thakore and SC leader Jignesh Mewani, the caste combination can be decisive in reviving the poll fortunes of the party, which has remained out of power in Gujarat for the past 22 years.

Take strict action against terrorists: Cong

The Congress in Gujarat has demanded that the state government take strict action against terrorists trying to create trouble in Gujarat. Modhwadia was replying to a question on Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's demand that Congress leader Ahmed Patel should resign from Rajya Sabha as one of the alleged terrorists caught by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Gujarat Police was an employee in a Bharuch hospital, where Patel was a trustee.

'Goyal Builders got over Rs500 crore of benefits by BJP govt'

The BJP government in Gujarat enabled Goyal Builders get undue benefits of over Rs 500 crore in its township scheme in the outskirts of Ahmedabad city, alleged Congress. It has demanded a probe by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the money trail and the beneficiaries in the alleged scam. It also said that the government derailed a probe into the matter when the irregularities were raised by D Thara, then CEO of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), whose authority to clear the project was bypassed and the nod was given by then AUDA Chairman, who is a non-executive authority.

Modhwadia alleged that in the Sanathal Telavi Township, Goyal builders were not only permitted to have double the ground construction but was also allowed to construct one more floor," he said.

JDU'S PLEA TO EC

• The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) said it will contest its “traditional” four to five seats in Gujarat and urged the Election Commission to reject the Sharad Yadav faction’s claim over the party symbol so that it can fight the assembly election. Chief spokesperson KC Tyagi said there have been no talks with the BJP for alliance.