After hour-long meetings with Rahul Gandhi, I can say those calling Rahul Gandhi as Pappu are right: Raghavji Patel

Jamnagar: Raghavji Patel who resigned as Congress MLA last month today formally joined the BJP.

Raghavji in his speech said he has changed the party five times but his supporters have stayed with him.

Raghavji said he could win as BJP candidate by spending just Rs 50,000 or Rs 45,000 but how he won as Congress candidate is known only to him. It was very difficult to win as Congress candidate.

Raghavji said he thought he would spend rest of political life in BJP which is the perfect platform for development and for helping smallest persons.

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi, Raghavjibhai said: ‘I have met Rahul Gandhi thrice in hour-long meetings. Earlier I would notice on Facebook that people would call Rahul Gandhi a Pappu, but I didn’t believe in it because Rahul Gandhi was my leader, but after hour long discussions with Rahul Gandhi, I felt Facebook was correct.

He said, ‘Soniaji is modest lady but her health is weak.’

He added, ‘State leadership of Congress in Gujarat has various factions. It has Arjunbhai’s, Shaktisinh’s, Siddharthbhai’s, old Janata Dal, Shankersinh Bapu’s RJP, Ahmed Patel’s Delhi group etc groups. If you meet one group the other group will finish you and not allow party to give ticket to you.’

‘Do visit Delhi twice a week, give a phone call there…..We can’t do such things. We are the ground level workers,’ he said.

Raghavji asked Chief Minister Rupani who was sharing the stage that police men who misbehaved applied excess force during Patidar quota agitation should be punished. Raghavji admitted that when in Congress he too provoked Patidars Raghavji asked Patidar community supporters that they should forgive single mistake of government which has otherwise done 99 good works. He gave example of late Gondal state ruler Bhagwatsinh.

Raghavji appealed BJP government to show big heart and resolve the issues of Patidar community which has elected BJP from taluka level to Delhi.

Raghavji also asked the government to look into the issues related to farmers such as good payment for their produce, insurance payment in poor season, irrigation in coastal area etc.

DeshGujarat