Congress and BJP Leaders Distribute Cash in Surat Slum for Prime land

Surat : Tension mounts in Surat as a video circulating on social media showcases senior Congress leader Ayub Patel and BJP figure Jakir Shah distributing bundles of cash to residents of Nasirnagar slums near Jilani Bridge in Ved Road. This spectacle has left political circles in dismay, raising questions about a real estate group’s involvement aiming to displace slum dwellers for a potential development project.

The Nasirnagar slum, established over five decades ago, sits on land owned by Gool Paliya, a Parsi landowner. The disturbing video portrays Patel seated among stacks of cash, doling out Rs 80,000 to more than a dozen slum residents, with BJP leader Jakir Shah present throughout the distribution.

Aslam Cyclewala, a former Congress councilor, expressed concern over the implications of the video, emphasizing that while the Congress party isn’t officially connected to the settlement with slum dwellers, Patel’s actions were his own.

Calling for a thorough investigation, Cyclewala urged the Surat police and Income Tax department to delve into the matter. Recent events have added to the tension, with Gool Paliya reporting an attack by unidentified assailants during a visit to Nasirnagar slum.

Allegations of a significant real estate conglomerate manipulating political influence to evacuate the slum for commercial purposes have surfaced. Cyclewala urged law enforcement to scrutinize the entire situation.

Within the Congress, reactions have been swift. Sources indicate the Gujarat Congress is contemplating suspending Ayub Patel in response to the viral video, signaling the seriousness with which the party views this cash distribution controversy.

The unsettling footage has amplified tensions, prompting calls for a robust investigation into potential ulterior motives behind the cash distribution and the larger agenda concerning the Nasirnagar slum settlement. As authorities contemplate their next steps, the political fallout and ramifications of this incident loom large over Surat’s landscape.