Congress Seeks Security For Hardik Patel After Slap At Election Rally
The Congress Friday urged the Election Commission to immediately provide security to Patidar leader Hardik Patel, hours after he was slapped by a man who alleged Mr Patel was playing politics with the sentiments of the community.
The man, identified as Tarun Gajjar from Kadi town in North Gujarat, climbed up the stage and slapped the leader.
Hardik Patel, later lodged a complaint at the Wadhvan police station, saying: “This was the handiwork of the BJP and the party may someday send someone to shoot me but our fight will continue.”
“I do not know why that person did this. I even requested the locals, who were beating him, to let him go and forgive him. I am sure that he was BJP’s man. This was an attempt to kill me. I could have been killed if he was carrying a gun today,” said Patel.
State BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya denied all allegations pertaining that his party or any of its members had anything to do with the incident and said that: “Hardik Patel was exposed as making personal political capital on the sentiments and aspirations of the Patidars and this is why he is inviting the anger of the people, which should not be attributed to the BJP.”
Tarun Gajjar suffered injuries after he was thrashed by Congress workers, Patel supporters and others at the rally venue. Gajjar is currently undergoing treatment as he was badly thrashed by people at the rally, PTI quoted police inspector of Wadhwan, H R Jethi as saying.