Total bandh in most of Gujarat's tribal towns, as Modi inaugurated Sardar statue

There was complete bandh in large number tribal areas of Gujarat on October 31, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was dedicating the world's tallest 182 metre statue of Sardar Patel, called Statue of Unity, to the nation. Bandh was observed in all major tribal towns around of the spot where the statue stands, 3.2 downstream of the Narmada dam.

According to reports bandh was observed in Saputara, Dharampur, Kaprada, Chikhli, Anaval, Vansda, Rankuva, Uchchal, Dolvan, Madhi, Mandvi, Netrang, Sagbara and many other places.
The bandh took place even as 100 people across the Adivasi areas were detained by police. Those detained included a large team is at Jitnagar Police Quarters in Narmada district, including ex-CM Sureshchandra Mehta, ex-minister Pravinsinh Jadeja, Adivasi Ekta Parishad leaders, and representatives of People's Union for Civil Liberties.
The urrounding areas of the Statue of Unity saw major protests against the "neglect" of the Adivasi area at the cost of the Sardar's idol, Rs 3,000 crore. Adivasis stood with black balloons in hand, took out protest rallies, held placards saying "Narendra Modi go back". Walls were painted with anti-Modi slogans.
A few photographs of protests and bandh...

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