General
Koli community has little voice in Gujarat politics despite one-third vote and population

The Koli community accounts for one-third of the population of Gujarat and has an equal vote share in the state. They can influence election results in 82 assembly seats with their domination over 44-45 seats, yet they have very little say in the leading political discourse and state politics.
As per youth leaders of the community, this is an outcome of the poor literacy rate in the community and socially and economically weak sub-caste based divisions within the community as community bigwigs are focused on their individual progress and not of the upliftment of the entire community.
Community youth leaders are trying to unite community members but the influential ones within are splitting them on the basis of sub-castes like Talapada Koli, Chuvalia Koli, Kedia Koli, Koli Patel etc. But now the youths have decided to fight them because “our existence and political weightage are at stake,” said Ranji Solanki, national president of New Samaj Koli Kranti Sena.
He cited two instances: recently, in the Jamraval municipal elections in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Koli community members contested under Vyavastha Parivartan Party symbol (VPP). It got a thumping majority as out of the 33 seats, 31 went to the Koli community and candidates of VPP. The BJP and the Congress were routed.
Citing the second instance, Solanki said that “On May 18, we will lay the foundation stone of a school funded by a Koli charitable trust in Surendranagar. This will be a primary school and as more funds come, the school will be upgraded to senior levels. The community has decided that no political leaders invited for the occasion will be seated on the stage – they will be in the audience with other ordinary community members.”
“Along the Saurashtra coast in Rajkot, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Botad, Morbi districts, and in Bharuch, Surat, Valsad, Navsari cities in South Gujarat, the Koli community has dominance over many assembly seats. If political parties do not field Koli candidates then they can get defeated. But this is not happening because the community lacks unity. Various groups are now working to unite the entire community,” says Ranchhod Ughreja, president of Koli Thakor Sena, Rajkot.
He and other community members realise that “The way to unite the community is by means of literacy and socio-economic development. So, groups within the community are working on it, setting up educational institutes, spreading awareness about the need for education for the next generation. Once this and financial stability is achieved, it will be easy to unite the community,” believes Ughreja.
“The tug of war between two stalwarts, Akhil Bharatiya Koli Samaj President Ajit Patel and former minister Kunvarji Bavaliya has intensified and it will have a detrimental impact on the political weightage in the upcoming assembly elections,” fears Jethabha Jora who has been serving the community for more than three decades.
“Political parties hardly field 15 to 20 candidates. Though the community is decisive in 44 to 45 seats, internal fights between leaders take precedence over fighting for the community’s right and due representation,” said a Koli community leader requesting anonymity.
Maharashtra
Loudspeakers of mosques in Mumbai, Kurt Somaiya’s notice against mosques, threat of deteriorating atmosphere, police notice to maintain law and order,

Mumbai: Mumbai The controversy over loudspeakers of Mumbai mosques has now intensified. BJP leader Kret Soumya is adamant on action against mosques in Mumbai, after which the Mumbai Police also issued a restraining order notice to Kret Soumya. But despite all this, Kret Soumya visited the Bhandup police and not only demanded action against loudspeakers, but the police, under Kret Soumya’s pressure, took action against loudspeakers of four mosques in Malind. In addition, an illegal mosque was located in Jala Ram Market. Action was taken against it. So far, 11 loudspeakers have been removed. All these loudspeakers were on the mosque within the limits of the Bhandup police station. This information was given by Kret Soumya.
Bhandup police had issued a notice under Section 168 to Kreet Soumya to maintain law and order, asking him not to visit the Muslim settlements of Bhandup Khandipara during his visit on April 19, as this could pose a threat to law and order and also create traffic problems. Along with this, the police had also issued an order for action under Section 223 for violating the notice, despite which Kreet Soumya appeared at the Bhandup police station.
Kreet Soumya’s incitement against mosques is at its peak, and Kreet Soumya’s campaign in Mumbai city is also threatening law and order and communal harmony, while Kreet Soumya has also warned of intensifying this campaign, which continues to pose a law and order problem in Mumbai city. Kret Soumya’s campaign against mosques has also raised fears of communal tension, while the police have now started the process of sending notices to Kret Soumya for visiting Muslim-majority areas. However, despite this, Kret Soumya tries to pressure police officers by going to the relevant police station, while the police have banned Kret Soumya from entering mosques and other religious places in Muslim-majority areas. This is the first time this action has been taken against Kret Soumya in Bhandup.
Maharashtra
Demolition action on Jain temple in Vile Parle is unfair -: Abu Asim Azmi

Mumbai: On the demolition of the Jain temple in Mumbai’s Vile Parle, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and Worker’s Assembly termed it as injustice by BMC and said that there is a need to formulate a separate law for religious places because in such a situation there is a risk of deterioration of the environment. He said that the legal stage needs to be completed before taking action on mosques, temples and religious places. The 90-year-old Jain temple was demolished by BMC even before the court’s decision.
This stage was under hearing before the action on the Jain temple, but the BMC has taken this action in a hurry. Before the Jain temple that was demolished, the documents related to the temple and the decision were received. The BMC did not show patience even until the temple was demolished. He said that the BMC takes more swift action on the demolition of religious places instead of demolishing illegal encroachments. He said that the order not to take action on structures and religious places built before 1995 was given by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi. He said that action is needed against such officers who promote illegal constructions and along with action against them, fines should also be collected from them for the demolition of illegal structures.
Maharashtra
Congress locks Mumbai ED office, Case registered against Congress workers

Mumbai: Mumbai Enforcement Directorate Police have registered a case against 15 to 20 Congress workers for protesting by locking the ED office. The protest was held at the ED office when it was on holiday and the Congress workers locked the already locked office. According to the police, the office was closed during the protest, but a case has been registered against Congress workers and protesters in this case. The protesters also raised anti-government slogans during the protest at the ED office and the protesters said that Modi sends the ED forward whenever he is afraid. Congressmen have continued to protest against the investigation and inclusion of their names in the charge sheet against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case. Congressmen have protested in the same manner, after which a case has been registered. This case was registered by MRA Marg Police and the investigation is ongoing. No one has been arrested in this case, this has been confirmed by local DCP Praveen Kumar. Police have tightened security around the office following the protest.
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