Farmers off Ahmedabad to protest on June 8 against 625 sq km "snatched away" in the name of urban infrastructure

Sabar Rabari leading farmers' rally

By A Representative
The Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG), a non-political farmers’ organization, has declared that, under its leadership, a farmers’ rally would be taken out from Dabhala Chowkadi, off Ahmedabad, to Gandhinagar on June 8 to voice their concern about “refusal” of the Gujarat government to return the land taken away from them in the name of urbanization.
Essentially a vehicles rally in which farmers would come in tractor, cars and motorcycles, KSG said, it plans to hand over a memorandum to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar, demanding withdrawal of the 2009 notification, which declared about 625 sq km as part of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA).
Sabar Rabari, convener, KSG, said in a statement, he, accompanied by farmers’ representatives first met AUDA chairman Bhupendra Patel a fortnight ago, and then deputy chief minister Nitin Patel – who also happens to be urban development minister – last week to apprise them of their demand, but “they do not seem to give an ear the demand.”
No doubt, Rabari told me, Bhupendra Patel, who is a local BJP leader of Ahmedabad and a builder, admitted while talking to him and his colleagues that there has been “little movement” towards urbanizing about 62,500 hectares, or 625 sq kilometres, merged into AUDA in 2009 through a notification.
“The AUDA chairman even agreed that the land set aside for urban development around Ahmedabad should be returned, as nothing so far been done towards developing the area’s urban infrastructure, as earlier planned. However, he admitted, things are not in his hand. It was for the government to decide”, Rabari said.
Later, accompanied with farmers’ representatives, when he met Nitin Patel, the latter only promised to “look into the matter”, but refused to give any concrete assurance, said Rabari, adding, “Nitin Patel looked quite disturbed. He went far as to accuse us of provoking farmers. However, later he calmed down.”
In 2009, the Gujarat government, through a notification merged 68 villages of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts into AUDA. With a total area of 625 sq km or 62,500 hectares (ha), there has not been any movement towards planned infrastructure urbanization of the area.
Meanwhile, the view has gone strong among farmers that this was just a ploy to appropriate their land. Pasturelands have also been sacrificed in the name of urbanization, Rabari said, adding, “While farmers are all set to lose about 40-50 per cent of their land under the Town Planning (TP) Act, there is a fear that they would be rendered without any means of livelihood if as and when a TP scheme is implemented.”
The TP Act requires farmers to part with 40 to 50 per cent of their land in the name of developing urban infrastructure once a TP scheme is floated in a particular area. “The government has left no option before the farmers. It does not want to listen to them. Hence the decision to protest”, Rabari said.
Rabari said, KSG programme would be a totally non-political event. Those wanting to join it were welcome, but without any political banner.

Comments

NYT: RSS 'infiltrates' institutions, 'drives' religious divide under Modi's leadership

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive New York Times investigation published on December 26, 2025, chronicles the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — characterized as a far-right Hindu nationalist organization — from a shadowy group founded in 1925 to the world's largest right-wing force, marking its centenary in 2025 with unprecedented influence and mainstream acceptance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who joined the RSS as a young boy and later became a full-time campaigner before being deputized to its political wing in the 1980s, delivered his strongest public tribute to the group in his August 2025 Independence Day address. Speaking from the Red Fort , he called the RSS a "giant river" with dozens of streams touching every aspect of Indian life, praising its "service, dedication, organization, and unmatched discipline." The report describes how the RSS has deeply infiltrated India's institutions — government, courts, police, media, and academia — ...

Why experts say replacing MGNREGA could undo two decades of rural empowerment

By A Representative A group of scientists, academics, civil society organisations and field practitioners from India and abroad has issued an open letter urging the Union government to reconsider the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and to withdraw the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The letter, dated December 27, 2025, comes days after the VB–G RAM G Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16 and subsequently approved by both Houses of Parliament, formally replacing the two-decade-old employment guarantee law.

Domestic vote-bank politics 'behind official solidarity' with Bangladeshi Hindus

By Sandeep Pandey, Faisal Khan The Indian government has registered a protest with Bangladesh over the mob lynching of two Hindus—Deepu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and Amrit Mandal in Rajbari. In its communication, the government cited a report by the Association of Hindus, Buddhists and Christian Unity Council, which claims that more than 2,900 incidents of killings, arson, and land encroachments targeting minorities have taken place since the interim government assumed power in Bangladesh.

Investment in rule of law a corporate imperative, not charity: Business, civil society leaders

By A Representative In a compelling town hall discussion hosted at L.J School of Law , prominent voices from industry and civil society underscored that corporate investment in strengthening the rule of law is not an act of charity but a critical business strategy for building a safer, stronger, and developed India by 2047. The dialogue, part of the Unmute podcast series, examined the intrinsic link between ethical business conduct , robust legal frameworks, and sustainable national development, against the sobering backdrop of India ranking 79th out of 142 countries on the global Rule of Law Index .

ArcelorMittal faces global scrutiny for retreat from green steel, job cuts, and environmental violations

By Jag Jivan ArcelorMittal is facing mounting criticism after cancelling or delaying nearly all of its major green steel projects across Europe, citing an “unsupportive policy environment” from the European Union . The company has shelved projects in Germany , Belgium , and France , while leaving the future of its Spanish decarbonisation plan uncertain. The decision comes as global unions warn that more than 5,500 jobs are at risk across its operations, including 4,000 in South Africa , 1,400 in Europe, and 160 in Canada .

From colonial mercantilism to Hindutva: New book on the making of power in Gujarat

By Rajiv Shah Professor Ghanshyam Shah ’s latest book, “ Caste-Class Hegemony and State Power: A Study of Gujarat Politics ”, published by Routledge , is penned by one of Gujarat ’s most respected chroniclers, drawing on decades of fieldwork in the state. It seeks to dissect how caste and class factors overlap to perpetuate the hegemony of upper strata in an ostensibly democratic polity. The book probes the dominance of two main political parties in Gujarat—the Indian National Congress and the BJP—arguing that both have sustained capitalist growth while reinforcing Brahmanic hierarchies.

2025 was not just a bad year—it was a moral failure, it normalised crisis

By Atanu Roy* The clock has struck midnight. 2025 has passed, and 2026 has arrived. Firecrackers were already bursting in celebration. If this is merely a ritual, like Deepavali, there is little to comment on. Otherwise, I find 2025 to have been a dismal year, weighed down by relentless odds—perhaps the worst year I have personally witnessed.

Gig workers’ strike halts platforms, union submits demands to Labour Ministry

By A Representative India’s gig economy witnessed an partial disruption on December 31, 2025, as a large number of delivery workers, app-based service providers, and freelancers across the country participated in a nationwide strike called by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU). The strike, which followed days of coordinated protests, shut down major platforms including Zomato , Swiggy , Blinkit , Zepto , Flipkart , and BigBasket in several areas.

Can global labour demand absorb India’s growing workforce?

By N.S. Venkataraman* Over the past eleven years, India has claimed significant economic growth , emerging as the world’s fourth-largest economy. With the Government of India continuing to pursue economic and industrial development initiatives, this growth momentum is expected to continue in the medium term.

Search This Blog