A number of organisations from the diamond industry came together to hold a well-attended felicitation programme for Haribhai Chaudhary, the newly appointed Minster of State for Home, Government of India. Chaudhary is the MP from Banaskantha, a seat he has won four times over the last 16 years.

The felicitation programme was organised by The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), Mumbai Diamond Merchants Association (MDMA), Palanpur Samaj Kendra (PSK) and Vidyamandir Trust, Palanpur (VMT). Chaudhary was presented with mementoes by Arunbhai R Mehta, President (PSK) and Vipul Shah, Chairman GJEPC on behalf of the five organisations.

Chaudhary is an alumnus of Vidyamandir in Palanpur, an educational institution supported by many Palanpuri diamantaires, and was also closely associated with the diamond industry in Mumbai for a number of years before he returned to Banaskantha and got fully involved in political and social activity.

Welcoming the guests, Anoop Mehta, President BDB, said that the industry had always wished that one among them would hold a high position at the Centre and reflect the views of the industry to the government. “That dream has now been fulfilled with the appointment of Haribhai as a minister.”

He said that the industry now had its very own representative in Delhi and pledged the support of the industry bodies to the new government.

Vipul Shah gave an overview of the achievements of the diamond industry tracing how it had grown from a cottage industry in Gujarat to an acknowledged force in the global industry. He urged the minister to favourably consider the industry’s demand for being covered by a presumptive tax regime and said such positive support from the new government would go a long way in helping India emerge as the global centre for the gems and jewellery industry.

Ashish K Mehta, who has had a close personal relationship with Haribhai from the days when the latter passed out from Vidyamandir and worked closely with Kantilal Chhotalal, described the minister as someone with great determination and confidence, a tremendous capacity for hard work and an unbelievable maturity and sense of responsibility. He said that the entire industry was proud that one of its own had now assumed such an important position and wished the minister all success.

Other industry leaders who spoke included Arunkumar R. Mehta of PSK, Mahendra Gandhi of MDMA and Rajiv Mehta of VMT.

Replying to the felicitations, Haribhai said that the industry had always supported his endeavours to develop Banaskantha and it was thanks to them that this once backward region now had advanced educational and other facilities. He pledged to work for the continued development of the constituency and also for the nation and promised the industry his support at all times.