Rahul Gandhi may address Kanubhai Kalsariya’s mega rally on Sunday

BJP MLA from Mahuva Dr Kanubhai Kalsariya, who is spearheading a campaign against the proposed cement plant by Nirma Ltd, on Wednesday took chief minister Narendra Modi head-on, saying that Modi was misleading the public in the name of development.

Kalsariya announced that they are going to organise a huge public meeting on September 5 to garner support for the farmers’ cause and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was expected to address the meeting.

“Chief minister Modi is hoodwinking the people of Gujarat in the name of development. He has succeeded in misleading the public, but now he can’t. I am on Modi’s blacklist for raising voice against the plant but who cares?’’ the BJP MLA told a news conference here. 

Kalsariya alleged that the state government does not have any soft corner towards farmers, but it only works for the benefits of a few industrialists. He said that the permission given to Nirma for the cement plant was illegal. When asked about the show-cause notice served on him by the party, Kalsariya denied having received any such notice and dared the party to expel him.

“I will not resign. For me, farmers are more important than the party,’’ he said. He said that Gandhi may address the mega public meeting being held on September 5 in Doliya village of Mahuva. He said that the young Congress leader was serious about the farmers’ issue and supported their agitation. “We will declare our future course of action at the meeting,’’ he said.

At the news conference, Bhavnagar district Youth Congress president Digvijaysinh Gohil said that at the instance of  Rahul Gandhi, they had carried out a survey in villages around the site of the proposed Nirma cement plant, and found that surprisingly 85% of people do not want the plant.

“Soon, Gandhi said that he will support the agitation led by Kalsariya. The Congress general secretary is expected to address the public rally at Doliya on Sunday,’’ said Gohil.  Kalsariya said that the cement plant will take away 268 hectare agricultural land and limestone mining will affect another 27,000 bigha of productive land. 

“The issue is just not only about Nirma… I will protest against any industrial development that spreads pollution in Bhavnagar’s sea coast,’’ he said. 

On September 5, those who will address the rally at Doliya are noted Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya, MJP president Gordhan Zadaphia, Rajkot Congress MP Kuvarji Bawaliya, and Koli leader Karshan Vegad.