Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party will not be able to campaign in Raj Samadhiala village in Gujarat’s Rajkot district, where the assembly elections are due. This is because of the rules that the village has formulated itself. However, voting is mandatory. Those eligible to vote will be fined Rs 51 if they do not exercise it.
Raj Samadhiala village is 21 km from the district headquarters. Reportedly, the village has been following these rules and others since 1983. Though the BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are contesting and campaigning at other places, according to the rules of the village, no one can campaign at Raj Samadhiala.
Apart from election campaigns and voting, the village also has some other rules to ensure that all the villagers live ‘ideally’. The rules are displayed on the notice board with a warning that ‘violation of the following rules will result in fine’. These are implemented by forming the development committee of the village.
The rules include abstaining from caste-based actions and thoughts, not polluting the air, water and soil, caring for parents, and making primary education compulsory for children. Violation of the rules will lead to intervention from the ‘Lok Adalat’ (People’s Court). There are also laws against littering in public places, chewing gudka (tobacco), consuming alcohol, destroying or cutting trees and abusing anyone in public. Violation of these will attract a fine of Rs 51 to Rs 500.