QAhmedabad: ‘Muslims Better Off in Gujarat,’ Says CM Rupani, More

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was speaking in Gandhinagar after inaugurating the renovated office of state Waqf Board

Muslim voters showing their inked fingers at a polling booth during Gujarat Assembly election in Surat.

(Photo:PTI)

1. Muslims Better Off in Gujarat Than Other States: Rupani

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday claimed the condition of Muslims living in the state was better than anywhere else in the country. Accusing the Congress of creating a rift between Hindus and Muslims, Rupani said the ‘votebank politics’ in the country should come to an end now.

Rupani was speaking in Gandhinagar after inaugurating the renovated office of state Waqf Board. Referring to the Sachar Committee report, Rupani, according to an official press release, said the condition of Muslims in BJP-ruled Gujarat was better than any other part of the country.

The report had examined the socio-economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India. The chief minister said the formation of the Sachar Committee to examine the condition of minorities by the then Congress government at the Centre was an example of ‘appeasement politics’ by the country's oldest political party.

(Source: PTI)

2. ‘Number of Registered Jobless Youths in State has Dipped’

Despite the fact that the Gujarat government received 81 lakh application for 27,000 government jobs, the live register of unemployment in state claims that the number of unemployed youth in the state has dipped by almost 50 per cent in 5 years.

According to the register, in 2014 there were 7.5 lakh unemployed youth which has come down to 4.8 lakh in October 2018. The government claims that the private sector has helped in providing jobs to the unemployed in the state.

However, the Congress claims that the government is trying to paint a rosy picture and is not showing the real figures of unemployment in the state. Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda said that one crore applications for a few thousand government jobs.

(Source: Times of India)

3. Liquor Sales Drop by 40% thanks to Fewer Permits & Costlier Booze

Usually during Christmas and New Year sale of spirits in permit shops across Gujarat spikes by 20 percent. This year however, pending health permit renewals and costlier booze has severely affected the sales of legally sold alcohol in the state.

According to industry estimates, instead of going up the liquor sales dipped by 40 percent in December 2018 as compared to December 2017. According to industry sources, 60 per cent of the sale comes from health-permit holders.

Permit shop owners have also put the blame for declining revenue on hike in excise duty and hefty special assessment fees on sale of liquor in the state.

(Source: Times of India)

4. Police Conduct Anti-Liquor Drive in Chharanagar

On Tuesday the city police held a mega drive against liquor selling and processing units in Chharanagar ahead of the new year, when liquor sales are rampant. A march past was held in Chharanagar with one ACP, one DCP, four PIs, four PSIs and 350 constables.

According to Sardarnagar Police Inspector RN Virani, the drive was held as a part of an intensive search and combing operations before new year. Around 500 litres of country liquor and 100 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor were seized and 15 persons were arrested.

The drive will continue till 31 December and be held in other parts of the city as well.

(Source: Times of India)

5. Record Stamp Duty Collection Deflates Realty Slump Claims

High Stamp Duty collection has debunked the fears of recession in the realty sector caused by GST, RERA Act and Demonetisation. The Stamp Duty and Registration fees collected for sale of residential commercial, industrial and land touched a record high of Rs 5,934 crore in 2017-18.

The trend continues in 2018-19 with registrations of 8.20 lakh sale deed and collection of Rs 3,993 crore in the first eight months. At this rate the total will cross Rs 6,000 crore by the end of 2018-2019.

(Source: Times of India)