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...

Comments

Beyond the 'silent relocation' narrative in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts

By Dr. Mohammad Asaduzzaman* In recent years, a narrative has emerged from the rugged and forested terrain of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), portraying the region as the site of a “silent relocation” — a mass forced migration of Bangladesh’s non-Muslim ethnic communities into neighboring India and Myanmar.

Ram, Bam and Bengal: Memories of a Left turn toward the Right

By Rajiv Shah The BJP ’s massive electoral win in West Bengal is being interpreted across political persuasions — except, of course, by the BJP itself — as the result of the alleged deletion of around 90 lakh voters from the electoral rolls during the controversial intensive revision process. This may well be true, given my own experience in Gujarat regarding the shoddy manner in which electoral revisions have often been conducted. In West Bengal, there also appeared to be a political angle to the exercise. But I am not interested in discussing that here, as enough has already appeared in the media on the subject.

India's housing boom hits a wall: Prices soar, buyers struggle

By Rajiv Shah India's residential real estate market recorded near-flat growth in the January–March quarter of 2026, with sales volumes dipping year-on-year even as property prices hit a historic milestone — crossing ₹10,000 per square foot for the first time.

Counterview

Search This Blog