New Delhi: Hardik Patel led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti(PAAS) late in the evening today said Congress high command didn’t meet PAAS conveners after calling them to Delhi. PAAS conveners also gave ultimatum to Congress party.

PAAS convener Dinesh Bambhania said, ‘yesterday we were invited to Delhi. Congress leader Siddharth Patel had also come with us. We were asked to seat in Gujarat Bhavan since morning. Bharatsinh Solanki met us in the afternoon and told us that talks will take place after meeting with high command. We waited till evening but talks didn’t take place. Bharatsinh Solanki returned to Gujarat. Ashok Gehlot returned to Rajasthan. Solanki didn’t receive our calls. If Congress fails to clear its stand in 24 hours, we will protest at all Congress offices across Gujarat after 24 hours. We will ask Patidar community not to contest from Congress if our demand is not considered.’

Nitin Patel reacts

Reacting to this, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said, ‘PAAS seeks 40-50 tickets from Congress of which 20 are for non-Patels. Alpesh Thakor is seeking 35-40 tickets, Jignesh Mevani is seeking more than 6 tickets. NCP and JDU are also seeking certain number of tickets.’

Patel said in garb of discussion on reservation formula, PAAS conveners are actually pressing Congress for more seats for their candidates, but they have not got any response from Congress.

Patel said Congress is not interested in giving reservation and PAAS is only interested in getting more tickets, such is the situation which is visible to everyone.

He said PAAS has now given 24-hour ultimatum but they have not been able to get anything on past occasion when they issued ultimatums.

Patel said outsiders are pressing Congress for announcement of candidates as per their wish. ‘Khichdo’ of these all people will not be able to do any good for Gujarat. He said PAAS and Patidar community will now further realize what is the actual situation and will boycott PAAS and Congress fully.

Bharatsinh Solanki reacts

Meanwhile reacting to this, Bharatsinh Solanki at Ahmedabad airport said, ‘our relations are very good. We will further hold next round of meeting after speaking with high-command. I couldn’t receive phone calls because I was in meetings. Congress respects PAAS leaders. I apologize if someone is hurt because I couldn’t receive calls’.

Solanki denied there were any seat related talks with PAAS. He told media persons to speak with Siddharth Patel about PAAS-Congress meeting.

In reply to question pertaining to seat sharing with JDU he said, talks with JDU were going on.

DeshGujarat