After an aerial survey of cyclone 'Biparjoy' affected areas in Gujarat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah appreciated the coordination between the central agencies and the Gujarat government, even as “officially” not a single life has been lost during the cyclone, that has left a devastating trail in terms of damages to infrastructure and agriculture.
Shah praised the manner in which Union and state ministers were on the field. He also had a word of appreciation for the administrative staff at the local level. The Union minister underlined how Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in touch with the Central agencies and the Gujarat Government.
For the record, over a lakh people were moved to safer places. This includes 1,152 pregnant women out of which over 700 delivered. As many as 73,000 cattle are said to have been shifted to safer places.
Congress in Gujarat said it would work with the government in this time of adversity. Newly appointed Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil urged the government to declare the cyclone as a national calamity and work in accordance with the laid rules.
The fact that no life has been lost in the cyclone gives yet another opportunity for the BJP to publicize the 'Gujarat Model' of development. In fact, during the press conference, Shah did mention the 'Gujarat Model'.
With the general election just one year away, it gives BJP fodder to promote 'Double Engine Government'. In the political rallies, the BJP has time and again given an example of how a “double engine” government (the BJP-led government at the Centre and BJP government in the state) works in close coordination and how the fruits of development reach the masses.
“It was indeed well coordinated. I am not criticizing it,” said Ahmedabad-based socio-political analyst Ghanshyam Shah. He for one felt that the BJP would surely give this example of good coordination during elections.
Pointing out how Shah addressed the press conference, the analyst said that it was the domain of the CM and the latter was in the background. According to him, it also demoralizes the administration.
“Ever since Modi moved to the Centre, every advertisement of the government has Modi’s photograph. This shows the kind of politics that is being played. It won’t be good in the longer run,” he said.
Environmental activist Rohit Prajapati appreciated the coordination but said that evacuating people is just a small part of the effort and planning required in the times when such a crisis reoccurs. “There are so many industries in the affected areas and what would have happened had there been a chemical disaster,” he wondered.
“It is good that the nuclear power plant did not come up in Mithi Virdi in Saurashtra,” he said. Prajapati was among several activists who had opposed the setting up of the proposed power plant.
Prajapati said that the government should learn lessons from Odisha and West Bengal and give nod to industrial development in such a manner that it does not cause damage to the coastal areas and the mangrove plantations.
Gujarat BJP’s spokesperson Yamal Vyas said the works were done on humanitarian grounds and party workers and people from different walks of life also provided services. He said that while it is good that no human life was lost due to early weather forecasts by the IMD and good coordination, the BJP will not make it a political issue. He, however, said that the work done and the coordination aspect will be highlighted at different fora.
It remains to be seen whether the BJP makes it an issue or not, however, Ahmedabad-based social analyst Gaurang Jani has a different take altogether. He said that public support in times of crisis has been the norm since the times of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
He mentioned that as the Mayor of Ahmedabad, Patel had moved to the city badly affected by the flood. Jani said that in Borsad, there is still a place called Vitthalnagar that was set up after the floods in 1928. It is “Gandhi's and Sardar’s Model”, he remarked.
