Parshottambhai Solanki

Parshottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki (also spelled as Pursottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki)[2] is a Bharatiya Janata Party politician. He is member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly since 1998 representing Bhavnagar Rural constituency. He has served as the Minister of Fishery in the Government of Gujarat.[3] He is alleged to have caused loss of ₹400 crore (US$72.4 million) to the government of Gujarat by granting contracts improperly.[4]

Parshottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki
Purshottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki
Member of Legislative Assembly of Gujarat Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
2012
Minister of StateMinistry of Fisheries[1]
ConstituencyBhavnagar Rural
Member of Legislative assembly of Gujarat Legislative Assembly
In office
1998–2012
ConstituencyGhogha
Personal details
Born
Purshottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki

23 May 1961
Andheri, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Asia
CitizenshipIndia
NationalityIndian
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseFalguniben Purshottambhai Solanki
RelationsHira Solanki (brother)
ParentOdhavjibhai Ramjibhai Solanki (father)
OccupationAgriculturist
Profession
  • Politician
  • Social activist
PortfolioMinistry of Fisheries in Government of Gujarat
NicknameSolanki Dada

Solanki was active Hindutvawadi and master mind in Mumbai riots of 1992 - 1993, a high level inquiry was conducted by Srikrishna Commission and found that Solanki was most aggressive Hindutvawadi but at that time Solanki was Cabinet Minister in Government of Gujarat.[5][6]

Political career

Solanki won 2007 assembly elections (12th assembly elections) and became Member of Legislative assembly from Talaja constituency, in Bhavnagar, Gujarat.[7] Following the win, he was selected to serve as a cabinet minister in the government led by Narendra Modi and was appointed the "Minister of fishery". He was elected again in 2017 from Bhavnagar Rural constituency.

Controversy

Fishery scandal

In 2009 Solanki gave contracts for fishing in reservoirs across the state. The contracts were allegedly given for fishing in the waters of 58 dams without following or performing any tendering process by auctions and the contracts were just allotted after payment of 40 crore.[8] It was estimated that due to the mis-conduct in granting the contracts, the government of Gujarat suffered a loss of ₹400 crore (US$72.4 million).[7] Following the allegations, Ishaq Maradia wanted to prosecute the minister under the Anti-corruption Act for the "irregularity". However, the cabinet and Modi rejected the application for prosecution twice due to "lack of sufficient evidence".[9] The matter reached High Court and it was suggested by the court that the governor of Gujarat Kamla Beniwal should take the decision whether to prosecute the minister or not. Beniwal, on 26 July 2012, overruled the state government and directed to prosecute the Minister.[7][9]

The matter was again taken to the high court by Solanki. The petition challenged the Governor's sanction and was seeking reversal. On 20 September 2012, the high court rejected the petition, citing that "the sanction for prosecution was not erroneous".[9] As the court rejected the petition, Arjun Modhwadia, the leader of the opposition and president of Gujarat congress, alleged the role of Narendra Modi in the scam and also asked for Modi's resignation on moral grounds. He added, "Rs. 400 crore scam was carried out with 'full knowledge of CM' and he, he should step down, owning moral responsibility."[8] The court directed the superintendent of police, Gandhinagar, to probe the matter and submit the report on the role played by the minister by 6 October 2012.[7][9]

See also

References
  1. "Harsh Sanghvi is home minister, Kanubhai Desai gets finance in new Gujarat Cabinet | Full list". India Today. p. Purushottam Solanki (Minister of State), He has got Fisheries and Animal Husbandry. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  2. Shutler, Nolan (2011). In Defence of Journalists. New Delhi, India, Asia: Socio Legal Information Cent. p. 189. ISBN 978-81-89479-74-9.
  3. "Gujarat: Purshottam Solanki discontent with fisheries portfolio but gives in, takes oath as MLA". India Today. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  4. Enarth, Shashidharan; Pathak, Jharna; Shah, Amita; Verma, Madhu; Wood, John R. (20 June 2016). Community Natural Resource Management and Poverty in India: The Evidence from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. New Delhi, India, Asia: SAGE Publications India. pp. 148: In 2009, during our research, a trader, Ishaq Maradia, moved the Gujarat High Court and accused Purshottam Solanki, a powerful Koli community leader who influenced several assembly seats in coastal Saurashtra and was then the Minister of Fishery in the GoG, of having given away fishing contracts for 58 reservoirs in the state, each spread over at least 200 ha (2 sq. km), without any tendering processes and at rates below the price fixed in the previous contract. According to Maradia, contracts worth 240 crore per annum were awarded for 2.36 crore. ISBN 978-93-5150-653-9.
  5. Puniyani, Ram (2006). The Politics Behind Anti Christian Violence: A Compilation of Investigation Committee Reports Into Acts of Violence Against the Christian Minorities. New Delhi, India, Asia: Media House. p. 125. ISBN 978-81-7495-237-0.
  6. Sharma, Ram Nath (2002). Gujarat Holocaust: Communalism in the Land of Gandhi. New Delhi, India, Asia: Shubhi Publications. p. 299. ISBN 978-81-87226-71-0.
  7. "Guj HC upholds Guv order to prosecute BJP minister Solanki". Zee News. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  8. "Congress welcomes Gujarat HC decision on Solanki trial". Global Gujarat News. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  9. Bhan, Rohit (20 September 2012). Surabhi Malik (ed.). "Setback for Gujarat minister Purshottam Solanki, court upholds sanction to prosecute him". NDTV. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
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