Gandhinagar:

Former woman convener of PAAS Reshma Patel who had joined ruling BJP recently today alleged that Hardik Patel has become agent of Congress which insulted Sardar Patel.

Reshma, whose press conference in a hotel premises in Ahmedabad late last night was disrupted by some suspected Congress backed hooligans of PAAS, today in another PC here today said, ‘ Hardik had made money in the name of the Patidar agitation and was now misleading the community by supporting Congress which had insulted Sardar Patel. BJP has accepted most of demands of PAAS except for OBC quota which it right from the beginning had made clear was legally not possible but without acknowledging that Hardik was doing dirty politics. He has nothing to do with Patidar agitation or quota but he was now adamant on making a party like Congress victorious. Why doesn’t he say what Congress has done for our community and what was its stand on OBC quota to Patidars.’

Reshma said that allegation about her taking money to join BJP was baseless and wrong and those burning her effigy were only a handful of Congress agents and not the people of Patidar community. ‘I was in the BJP in the past and owing to the Patidar agitation I had parted ways from the party and even uttered strong words against it like a true agitator and tried to bargain as much for our community as possible but when on September 26 the government accepted most of our demands, I decided to come back to it. I don’t think that politics was a bad thing. I have not joined BJP for any deal but am not averse to contesting poll if the party gives me ticket. I also appeal Hardik to join Congress full fledgedly rather than behaving like its agent and going to meet its leaders in a five star hotel in the dark of night like a thieve and coming out with a bag hiding his face. He should also make it clear as to what was in that bag. What deal for the Patidar community has he struck with Congress,’ she said.

“Hardik says Rahul is not a terrorist that he needed to meet him secretly. That was correct but why you are seen coming out of the hotel he was staying in, hidden faced. Why you talk in round about manner. If you have do politics, you can do that by formally becoming a part of Congress. There was nothing wrong in it. But plaese don’t mislead the community. Every time BJP government gave somethig for the community you termed it lollypop now you ask Congress will it give Patidar’s OBC status. Don’t try to make the community fool. Why are you singing praise of Congress from the stage meant for the martyrs of Patidar agitation. The 14 Patidars martyred for OBC quota agitation and not for allowing Hardik to go and meet Congress leaders secretly and coming out carrying a bag,’ she said.
To a query she said that after September 26 when the BJP government accepted most of the demands of Patidar agitation, she has not uttered a single word against it. “The government has withdrawn many cases of agitation. It has ordered probe in to police excess and accepted all the demands except OBC quota for Patidars. For it even today I am ready to go for any possible legal remedy. Hardik was now talking about only one thing and that is to uproot the BJP government and making Congress victorious at any cost. He has turned agent of the party which insulted Sardar Patel,’ Reshma said.

She appealed the Patidar community to be aware of the tactics of Hardik and Congress.
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