Bharuch:

The two leaders of VHP and BJP who were present in the ‘grand-welcome’ of one of the two accused of Ajmer Dargah blast case, Bhavesh Patel alias Swami Muktanand on his return home here recently after getting bail from Rajasthan High Court have said that he was greeted for his becoming a swami and for being an old friend.

Bhavesh Patel (40) of Bharuch who apart from another accused Devendra Gupta (42) of Ajmer were given lifer by a Jaipur court in August 2017 in connection with the October 2007 blast at the Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Dargah in Ajmer that killed 3 persons and injured 15 had returned home three days back.

Wearing a saffron robe, Bhavesh was welcomed at the station itself by a large crowd that included office bearers of Hindu outfits like VHP and RSS and also some of the leaders of ruling BJP. All along the way from Station to Swaminarayan temple in Dandiya bazar where he offered prayers to his home in Hathikhana large number of people gathered and greeted him. Patriotic songs were also played on public audio system and he was even carried by some over his shoulders with showering of flower petals.

BJP’s Surbhiben Tamakuwala, president of the Bharuch municipality, Councillor Marutisinh Atodariya, VHP’s South Gujarat Spokesperson Viral Desai were also present on the occasion.

Atodariya said that the house of Patel was in his ward, and he knew Bhavesh since childhood. He came to know that Bhavesh had changed his ways and had become a Swami in jail. He was returning home, so he was present and felicitated him.

VHP leader Desai said that Bhavesh was also a friend of him and he also came to know about his becoming a swami. He came to welcome him as a swami. He said that he was also among those who made preparations for his grand welcome.

Notably Patel and the other accused both were associated with RSS in the past.

They were arrested in 2010.

Surbhiben however said that she did not know him.

DeshGujarat