Seen outside BJP leader's house in Rajkot, public benches with Surat inscription spark political row in Gujarat

Indian Express

2 days ago

Six public benches, having allegedly travelled a distance of 450 kilometres from Surat to Rajkot, have become a cause of political controversy in Gujarat.
Spotted outside the house of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Rajkot's Old Pipaliya village, the inscription on these stone benches indicate they are from Surat. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the benches, which were to be allotted to the citizens of Surat, had reached directly to Rajkot, a minister in Gujarat government said the benches were old and insisted that they were still being used for the public.
The AAP, meanwhile, said it would approach the Surat district collector, seeking action in the matter.
The controversy began on Friday evening, when AAP Corporator of Surat Municipal Corporation's (SMC) ward no. 17, Vipul Suhagiya, uploaded photos and videos of six benches parked outside the main gate of a house.
Written in Gujarati, the inscriptions on the benches say they were 'allotted from MLA Praful Pansheriya from Kamrej seat (Surat), grant year 2016-17, and MP Prabhubhai Vasava from Bardoli (Surat), grant year 2022-23'.
Pansheriya is now a Minister of State for Primary, Secondary and Higher Education with the Gujarat government.
In the social media post, Suhagiya alleged that the benches were transported from Surat to Rajkot by BJP leader Bharat Vadodariya, and had been placed outside his house. Vadodariya had contested the 2021 SMC election but lost.
Suhagiya told The Indian Express, 'I got the videos and photos from my friend who is a resident of Old Pipaliya village. He told me that the benches were placed outside the house of Vadodariya, who hails from the village and is settled in Surat City. The purpose of posting such videos and photos on social media is to ensure that government officials are aware of where the benches allotted through MP and MLA grants and funds are being allocated. If Vadodariya wanted benches, he should have asked the elected MLA or MP of his native village.'
Suhagiya further added, 'We (AAP) will complain about this issue to the Surat district collector next week.'
When contacted, Minister Pansheriya said, 'I have also come across such videos and photos, and it is from my last term. Generally, we provide benches for people to sit in a (housing) society in Surat city. Somebody may have taken such old benches from some society in Surat city and transported them to their native village. Even there, the benches are kept on a paver block path, and are not being privately used. Even there, they are meant for public use.'
Talking to The Indian Express, Bardoli BJP MP Prabhu Vasava said, 'A mistake has been made by those who had taken such benches to Rajkot. It is the responsibility of the government officials, and I am hopeful that they will start a probe in this connection.'
Vadodariya could not be reached for comment on the issue.