Fire guts textile market in Surat

SURAT - A massive fire engulfed a textile market in Surat late on Wednesday night.

The fire broke out in the basement of the Abhishek textile market.Fire fighters were called in, who had a tough time controlling the fire, as there was no means of direct entry into the shop where the fire had started.

A wild leopard rescued from a village well in Gujarat

MOTICHER - After a well-planned operation, officials of the forest department rescued a wild leopard on prowl from an open well at Moticher village in Surat district of Gujarat in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Modi Govt. more concerned about business community: Rahul Gandhi

SURAT - Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat is more concerned about protecting the interests of the business community than in helping the farmers and poor people.

NDA can only give politics of division, says Manmohan Singh

SURAT - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat, saying that only the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could give the politics of division.

Small revival of Surat diamond industry brings smile back to workers

SURAT - After a lull, diamond market in Surat was abuzz with activity following slight spurt in demand for high quality diamond.

Congress to improve tally from Gujarat: PM

SURAT/AHMEDABAD - A confident Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday evening said his Congress party expects to improve its tally from Gujarat in the Lok Sabha elections, and took a dig at the Narendra Modi government for claiming credit for the state’s economic progress.

Rajnath Singh accuses Sonia, Manmohan of making personal attacks on Advani

SURAT - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh on Thursday accused the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh of making personal attacks on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani.

Notorious criminal brought to Surat from Delhi

SURAT - The Surat police Thursday took custody of a man wanted in 24 cases of murder, kidnapping and extortion across the country from a Delhi Police team which nabbed him Wednesday in the national capital, the police said.

Rs.10-mn assistance for jobless diamond workers’ children

SURAT - Two diamond industry associations in Gujarat Tuesday came forward with Rs.10-million (Rs.1 crore) education assistance for the children of jobless diamond workers in the state.

German team to study crisis in Gujarat diamond industry

SURAT - A German university has sent a team of faculty members and students to Gujarat to help the struggling diamond industry find a solution to its woes.

ONGC to start drilling wells in Gulf of Khambhat

SURAT - Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) will soon start drilling three exploration wells at a depth of 2,500 to 4,500 metres in the Gulf of Khambhat off northwest Gujarat, officials said.

Patel lays foundation of new terminal at Surat airport

SURAT - Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Friday laid the foundation of a new terminal at Surat airport, the eighth such terminal project in the country since Feb 20.

Modi targets Rahul, Congress terms BJP anti-people

SURAT/NEW DELHI - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to refrain from commenting on the state’s economic initiatives but the Congress retorted by terming Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pro-corporate, saying it had little concern for the masses.

Modi criticises Rahul, Congress says BJP is anti-people

SURAT/NEW DELHI - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asking him not to comment on the state’s economic initiatives. The Congress responded by saying that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was pro-corporate and had little concern for masses.

Manmohan is PM candidate for UPA: Rahul

SURAT - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be the prime ministerial candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said Saturday.

Gujarat government asked to help small and diamond units

SURAT - The Congress party Thursday asked the Gujarat government to take immediate steps to help recession-hit small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and diamond units.

14 textile units raided in Surat

SURAT - The Income Tax department continued search and seizure operations for the second day Wednesday, raiding 14 more textile units in this south Gujarat city to unearth unaccounted income.

Poor global demand leaves thousands jobless in Surat diamond units

SURAT - Poor overseas demand due to the global economic meltdown has left thousands jobless in this Gujarat city, India’s diamond cutting and polishing hub.

Modi’s moves fail to revive diamond polishing units

SURAT - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Dec 26 assurance that diamond workers’ livelihood would be secured has not instilled confidence among them. Not all closed diamond polishing units have resumed operations, and eight workers have committed suicide in less than a week since then.

Over 100,000 people laid off in India’s gems, jewellery sector

SURAT - More than 100,000 people have been laid off in recent months by the gems and jewellery industry in India because of the global slowdown in demand and lack of adequate credit, an industry leader said in this hub for the sector in Gujarat.

Take slowdown as opportunity: Modi to jewellery sector

SURAT - India’s $50-billion gems and jewellery industry should take the advantage of the global economic slowdown to build a strong overseas market by offering products at ‘cost-effective’ prices, said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi here Friday.