Gujarat Guv questions ‘lopsided growth’

GANDHINAGAR: In a shocker to the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre, Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, an appointee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has questioned the “lopsided development” in the country and cautioned the governments against the growing discontent among the youth due to increasing unemployment.

Gujarat Governor OP Kohli (L) and CM Vijay Rupani, who was also present at the Gujarat Technological University event. File photo

Manas Dasgupta

Gandhinagar, January 13

In a shocker to the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre, Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, an appointee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has questioned the “lopsided development” in the country and cautioned the governments against the growing discontent among the youth due to increasing unemployment.

Delivering the 7th convocation address at Gujarat Technological University, Kohli said, “In the present scenario, we see a sense of discontent among the youths because of unemployment. Such a feeling is natural when you do not get a job despite getting higher education. Such discontent is a warning bell for any society.” Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma were also present at the event.

The Governor, a former BJP leader, said it was important to mull over whether the youth getting higher education would be able to get proper job opportunities or not.

Apparently questioning the government’s development strategy, Kohli said the development of some cities did not mean the entire country was witnessing development and added it was time the country moved from “developing” to the “developed” category.

An embarrassed Chudasma when asked said it was the Governor’s “personal opinion and suggestion” but since it had come from the highest office in the state, the government would consider the “positive aspects of his suggestions.”

Growing unemployment and unrest among the youth in the home state of the PM as well as BJP chief Amit Shah was made a key issue by the Congress in the just-concluded Assembly poll with party president Rahul Gandhi claiming that the situation had exposed the hollowness of the “Gujarat model of development”. The BJP, however, still managed to win a simple majority in the elections claiming 99 seats in the 182-member House.