Guj: Kolis vent fury on Narendra Modi

Anand, June 28: Members of the Koli community under the ageis of Kshatriya Koli Thakor Samaj today vented their ire against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the sheilding of two persons allegedly involved in murder and rape of two girls from the community and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

The accused had allegedly killed one girl named Chandni on May 11 and raped another girl on the same day.

Kolis from Tarapur, Khambhatt and Suchitra talukas, who had gathered under the leadership of Parshottam Dada, a well-known Koli leader, paid homage to the deceased Chandni by observing a minute's silence.

Tarapur Agriculture Marketing Yard Chairman and an important Koli leader Poonambhai Matabhai Parmar said, ''Though the culprits are roaming under Modi's nose, they have still not being caught. There are 65 per cent Kolis in Gujarat and Modi can ignore the community only at his own peril,'' the leader said.

''When the police can efficiently trace and kill those supposedly coming to kill Modi, how is it that Koli girl Chandni's killers are still untraced?'' demanded Parmar.

Borsad Congress MLA Amit Chavda, who was also persent on the occasion, said Mr Modi talked day-in and day-out about 'atrocities on daughters of Gujarat', yet he plays it cool when it comes the to Chandni's killers.

Ex-Junagadh MLA Jethabhai Zora said he would continue to fight for justice for Chandni in Junagadh. ''We must spread the spark of atrocity committed on Chandni to all the districts of the State,' Mr Zora said. He condemned Mr Modi's powerplay of causing dissatisfaction among the Koli samaj that has led to a certain degree of dissatisfaction among its leaders.

Chaklasi MLA Sankarbhai Vaghela said when the infamous emergency was declared by Indira Gandhi, Kheda and Anand disricts provided the requisite leadership to combat the highhandedness of the State. We must stay united and demonstrate our unity for Chandni's sake, he said.

Dehgam MLA Jagdishbhai Thakor said Chandni is issue had come at a time when Mr Modi's arrogance was at its peak. ''We must subdue it,'' he said. It is shameful that 5,000 children have gone missing in the State and there have been 20 mass family suicides, Mr Thakor said adding, ''Kolis must unite and teach a lesson to Mr Modi in the forthcoming assembly elections.'' Pointing out Mr Modi's hypocrisy, Mr Thakor said during the Godhra train carnage, 58 people had died. But Mr Modi did not have even 50 seconds to spare for the deceased.

Jasdan MLA Kuerjibhai Bavaria said Mr Modi and his government must be uprooted. For this, there is a need for a Godfather. Bavaria also said in Mr Modi's rule' self-finance institutes had cropped up which no poor Koli could afford. This shows his contempt for the poor and election is the only way to put Mr Modi in his place, he said.

Chhotila MLA Popatbhai Jinjaria opined that if Gujarat police could go to Orissa and rescue Surat boy Parnsu in seven days, why cant they arrest Chandni's killers even after 46 days since the crime occurred. ''The Ballot is our only weapon to stage an encounter with Mr Modi,'' Jinjaria said.

Rebel BJP MLA Dhirubhai Gajera said it was sad yet true that there was no leadership among the people to lead them in their struggle. ''In Gujarat' only Mr Modi is safe and no one else,'' he said.

Terming Modi as a megalomaniac, Mr Gajera said Mr Modi's whimsical ways were only due to the support which he was getting from BJP leaders L K Advani, A B Vajpayee and Rajnath Singh.

''Today, people are silent. There is no revolutionary spark left in them and this is convenient for people like Mr Modi,'' Gajera said. He said incidents like Chandni's murder occursed because of lack of employment. There are 7,000 vacancies in the government which are not being filled up by the Modi government, he said.

Mr Gajera also demanded a white paper on the prevailing law and order situation and on the increasing crime graph of rape, loot and murder.

Surendranagar MP Somabhai Ganda Patel said that he was working for the BJP ever since the Jan Sangh was born in 1960. ''When I wanted to meet Mr Modi in connection with the Chandni case he refused. I have won from my constitutency thrice as an MP, yet Mr Modi is not interested in hearing my views. I also met Mr Advani, Mr Vajpayee and Mr Rajnath Singh and gave full details of the incident.

Nothing seems to have happened,'' he lamented.

''My loyalties and support is first to the Koli samaj and only later to the party,'' he added.

UNI