Gujarat BJP MLA Dr Kanu Kalsaria - invited Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi

For 11th September, BJP MLA Dr Kanu Kalsaria has invited Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to be the chief guest at the launch of his 10-day cycle rally in Mahuva Town Bhavnagar District.

Purpose Behind this event - to spread awareness among locals on how arbitrary allotment of land in coastal areas — from Dwarka Mandir to Jamnagar City - has created salinity problem.

At end of two day Padyatra Kalsaria said that, “I will be very happy if Rahul comes and addresses the launch of the cycle rally.’

Asked as to why he has invited Rahul and not any other leader fighting for the farmers’ rights, the Mahuva MLA said the move intends to send a message to the Center that it should not give green signal to any project without conducting an in-depth study of the project’s possible impact on the local environment and population. He said that a proposed alumina project at Anjar would destroy the environment.

This is not the first time that Rahul’s support has been sought. During the protest against the proposed cement plant by Nirma, he and fellow protesters, including former state finance minister Sanat Mehta, had sought the Congress leader’s intervention.

“My only plan is to work for the welfare of people, particularly the rural population. They are suffering owing to arbitrary allotment of agricultural and government land for industrial purposes,” he said.

He has already ordered purchase of 500 cycles, with donations from locals, to be distributed among the rallyists. Another 500, he said, would join on their own cycles.