Ahmedabad

Amid BJP allegations that Hardik Patel’s Patidar agitation was backed by Congress party, top Congress leader Siddharth Patel today told media persons that he had met Hardik Patel.

Siddharth Patel who is Gujarat Congress’s Patel face admitted this before media when Crime Branch of Ahmedabad Police is analyzing 45 GM data of Hardik Patel’s mobile phones.

“There’s no matter of surprise and it’s not something to hide. He came, halted here for 15-20 minutes and had tea. Meeting someone is not equal to extending support. Who was in support is now emerging through tapes, and I challenge BJP to announce the tapes and make it clear that who was extending support to Hardik,” Siddharth Patel told media persons.

Gujarat BJP has been making allegations that Hardik Patel’s agitation was backed by Congress party behind the curtain to split BJP’s votes from Patel community.

Congress party has recently taken a stand that there should be reservation beyond 49% cap fixed by Supreme Court for Economic Backward Class people. State Congress had moved Siddharth Patel to Patel community dominated pockets across Gujarat to hold series of group meetings of Patel community people to convey them Congress party’s support to their demand for reservation.

– DeshGujarat