In another deplorable incident, anti-govt protester hurls shoes at MoS Home Jadeja

Gandhinagar: In another deplorable incident of growing indiscipline among anti-govt section of protesters in election year, minister of state for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja was today attacked with shoes as he started briefing outside the assembly building today afternoon. The attacker was identified as Gopal Italiya(Patel) who was earlier held for faking his identity over phone call to state deputy chief minister. Italiya who claims he is friend of Congress leader Jayrajsinh Parmar in one of his Facebook posts, keeps issuing video messages challenging the state BJP government and its leaders on social media for last some time. Former constable who presently works in district administration office in Ahmedabad hurled shoes at Jadeja when entire electronic media was present to capture Jadeja’s statement. Italiya apparently in bid to attract maximum media attention not only choose this venue for his violent protest but also chanted slogans against corruption and liquor prohibition policy. He was immediately nabbed by policemen present there and taken to police van. On way to police van he spoke to media persons something which appeared well-scripted. He said this shoes was hurled by a common man to arrogance of Gujarat government. This is one more incident of such unacceptable style of protest which is very convenient to do as the state leadership is soft, weak and forgiving in nature in public perception. BJP leaders in their immediate reaction to media seemed clueless how to respond. The lot in State BJP has forgotten how to give strong reaction, look strong, act strong and be strong. Like always, the state BJP president Jitu Vaghani who is also MLA and therefore was present in the assembly told media persons that Congress was responsible, and behind this attack. What is likely to happen next is, like in the past incidents, Italiya will be released after some time. All 8 pm discussions on Gujarati news channels will balance the action of Italiya by inviting all parties in debate, and by raising other issues against the govt. Later this year Italiya will be given ticket to contest for Aam Admi Party(remember Jarnail Singh?)

Some of the recent incidents of protests, unacceptable in any descent community and disciplined state

– Patidar community youth throws chairs in BJP president Amit Shah’s function in Surat.
– A group of Patidar community youths throw pouches of water toward deputy chief minister Nitin Patel in Mansa function of community for mass wedding.
– Patidar community youth throws egg on BJYM Gujarat unit president during his rally in open jeep in Surat.
– Patidar community youth attempts to slap BJYM Gujarat unit president during his rally in open jeep in Mahesana.
– Patidar community MLA from Amreli in Congress fold rushes to treasury bench in the assembly and speaks in offending language to 62-year old minister Chimanbhai Saparia.
– Patidar community youths protests a well-known Gujarati folk artist Kirtidan Gadhvi and throw shoes and bottles to him forcing him to sing songs hailing Patidars. Folk artist leaves the show.
– A group of Patidar community youths roam in Jetpur streets with sticks in hands during Hardik Patel’s visit there.

In many of these incidents, the accused managed to achieve compromise or set free in few days post detention/arrest. Forget BJP/Congress/AAP, politics, assembly polls and all, such incidents are unacceptable because they are not in accordance with the culture of ‘Garvi Gujarat'(title of Premanand’s poetry). They are in fact in accordance with ‘Gaandhi Gujarat'(BK Thakor’s famous essay). If such incidents of indiscipline become culture of Gujarat, we will have students doing same with their teachers, children doing same with their parents, staff members/employees doing same with their employers. There should be some decorum. Viruses involved in such incidents are blot. They must be treated with anti-virus dose. People love strong leaders, strong government. Let the government forget that accused belongs to which community, which background and he did act of violence for which cause. Let the government forget that this is election year. Let the government stay away from worrying about the implications in election. Let the government take principal stand and act strictly against hooligans involved in such acts.

DeshGujarat