Hardik Patel supporters raise slogan against Shah
Hundreds of Patidars today spoiled a function that was attended by BJP president Amit Shah in Surat. They raised slogan against him and forced the BJP chief to cut short his speech and leave the programme. The incident happened at a public meeting organised to showcase the BJP’s support of the Patel community.
Police used lathis and tear gas to quell violence.
Despite large deployment of police and paramilitary forces, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) supporters sported saffron caps and barged into the venue where legislators of the Patel community were to be felicitated by Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The PAAS supporters started raising slogans like “Jai Sardar, Jai Patidar” and hurled chairs as soon as Amit Shah and Rupani stood on the stage.
Both the Bjp leaders cut short their speeches to a couple of minutes as a result of the bedlam. Amit Shah, ironically, said: “The Patidars were the backbone of the growth of Gujarat and the BJP.”
Earlier, a life-size cutout of Amit Shah, put up outside the venue, was damaged by the PAAS supporters. Police took into custody over 100 people, including PAAS district convenors.
The felicitation of Patel community legislators was organised by some local businessmen to express confidence in the Bjpgovernment.
The PAAS protesters also damaged a couple of state transport buses in the Patel-dominated Varachha Road area. State transport buses were withdrawn and diverted to other routes.