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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Jethwa murder may haunt BJP in Kodinar by Vijaysinh Parmar

Jethwa murder may haunt BJP in Kodinar by Vijaysinh Parmar

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published Published on Oct 16, 2010   modified Modified on Oct 16, 2010

The slain RTI  and wildlife activist, Amit Jethwa, who paid the price for trying to expose illegal mining around the Gir Sanctuary with his life, has become an inspiration for the local RTI activists in Kodinar taluka. Cashing in on the popular sentiment, Congress has named two RTI activists to contest Kodinar taluka panchayat polls to be held on October 21.

Jethwa was murdered outside Gujarat High Court two months ago. The police officials have arrested Shiva Solanki, former vice-president of Kodinar taluka panchayat and nephew of Dinu Solanki, BJP MP from Junagadh, in the connection. The MP was also questioned by the police. Now, with Congress fielding RTI activists - Bhikhabhai Gohil, a resident of Gohil ni Khan village, and Dipu Parmar, the BJP will have a tough time in the coming polls in the area.

Both Gohil and Parmar have used RTI extensively to expose corruption in various government departments. "We have collected a lot of information under RTI and are now telling voters what is wrong with government departments and why people are not getting their rights. In our poll campaign, we ask people to use RTI to secure their rights," said Gohil, 30, who is contesting from Mul Dvarka taluka panchayat seat in Kodinar.

Jethwa murder appears to have become one of the main issues in local polls following relentless campaigning by the two RTI activists and local Congress leaders are adding their bit in a bid to put the BJP on the backfoot. The issue has caught popular sentiments also because Jethwa had been associated with Kodinar for long as his in-laws family lives in Kodinar.

Sources said that pamphlets are being distributed among the people describing the brutal murder of Jethwa and also the people suspected of killing him.

Interestingly, right now BJP has virtually no opposition in Kodinar, as out of 21 seats, BJP had won 20 in the last poll and the lone Congress winner also joined the ruling party later.

Sources, however, said that equations may have changed this time as, for the first time, Congress won the by-election held for Kodinar assembly seat. The by-poll was necessitated by Dinu Solanki's victory in Lok Sabha elections.

"There is virtually opposition in this panchayat. Common people have suffered a lot as they have no voice in the local administration and use of RTI is only tool they have got if they want any information. We tell people about Amit Jethwa who tried to expose the truth and was killed in the bargain. We are hopeful to win the majority in taluka panchayat polls this time,'' said Dipu Parmar, who is contesting from Pipalva in Kodinar taluka.


The Times of India, 15 October, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Jethwa-murder-may-haunt-BJP-in-Kodinar/articleshow/6755964.cms


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