Fifty Gujarat NGOs "join hands" with Congress, AAP, Swaraj Samvad, decide to start "mega agitation" against Modi

Congress' Bharat Solanki

By A Representative
In a rare show of unity of opposition to the ruling BJP in Gujarat, around l 50 Gujarat-based non-government organizations (NGOs) shared stage in Ahmedabad with senior state Congress leader Bharatsinh Solanki, on one hand, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhdev Patel, on the other, to decide on launching an anti-Narendra Modi protest movement in the state, starting on August 9 and ending on August 15.
On August 15, a resolution passed at the end of the meet said, a mega national flag will be unfurled in Gandhinagar, Gujarat capital, after different organizations organize demonstrations across Gujarat starting on August 9, which happens to be the martyrs' day.
Among others those who spoke in support of raising banner against Modi included Swaraj Samvad leader Yogendra Yadav, who split from AAP in April, Rasikbhai Parmar of the Adivasi Mahasabha, Nanajibhai Adhiyal of the Banaskantha Dalit Sangathan, Karan Desai of the Maldhari Vikas Sangathan, Mittalben Patel of the Vicharati Jati Samuday, Pankti Jog of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, Vipul Pandya of the Bandhkam Mazdoor Sangathan, Rajkumar Singh of the Communist Party of India and Tapandas Gupta of the Socialist Unity Centre of India.

AAP's Sukhdev Patel

Presided over by Azad Vikas Sangathan's Lalji Desai, who is state Congress general secretary, and People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) general secretary Gautam Thaker, the speakers at the meeting agreed "there has been devastation in place of development" in India over the last one year, hence "it is essential to spearhead a movement in Gujarat".
Called “Sachchaai Gujarat Ki….” (Truth oft Gujarat), and attended by 1,000 NGO delegates, the meet was told by senior human rights advocate of Gujarat High Court Girish Patel that the "biggest challenge before the people’s organization and civil society is to challenge Modi's model of development, which is contrary to fundamental rights and democratic values."
"This model is a challenge to all because it is based on ideology pursued by the RSS. To spearhead a mega people’s movement, we all need to get united, so as to kick start a widespread movement similar to one which was launched in the year 1975", he insisted.
Social activist Indukumar Jani, who edits "Naya Marg", said that the BJP is in power in Gujarat since 1995, and ever since "there is complete annihilation of the have-nots, poor and the middle classes. For the first time, there is a reduction in the number of farmers and a rise in the number of farm labourers. Grazing lands are being being handed over to industrialists."

Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj Samvad

Academic Rohit Shukla stated that the "tall talks of Vibrant Gujarat is an illusion", adding, "When the state has been destined to be looted, then which industrialist will not take benefit from it? More than 12 crore accounts, under the Jan Dhan Scheme have been opened, out of which 70% accounts are having zero balance."
Another academic Hemantkumar Shah said intellectuals of Gujarat will have to seriously consider their options vis-a-vis the recently passed draconian anti-terrorist Act and the anti-democratic law that makes voting compulsory. "An atmosphere will have to be created to challenge and defeat those who proudly proclaim that their line of development alone is correct”, he added.
Litterateur Prakash N Shah said, "Time is ripe to tell the people who all are indulging in lies, tall talks and hearsay. He insisted on the need to agitate against "anti-democratic, communal forces, devastating development."