Rajkot:

Chairman of the supreme religious trust of Leuwa Patel community, (Khodaldham trust of Kagvad) Naresh Patel today also termed the claims of PAAS leader Hardik Patel about the affairs of the trust and reason behind his resignation as ‘wrong’.

Earlier the President of the trust Paresh Gajera had also hit out at the PAAS leader for spreading lies and rumours about the trust.

Notably, Hardik had alleged that many of the trustees of the trust were working for ruling BJP. He had also targeted Gajera, the number 2 in the trust.

Hardik had on April 3 tweeted that Naresh Patel, the trust chairman had resigned owing to pro-BJP stance of several of the trustees.Gajera had said that what Hardik was saying was nothing but lie. ‘He is spreading rumours and lies,’ Gajera had said.

Naresh Patel talking to newsmen here today during a press conference of the trust in which Gajera was also present said that what Hardik had alleged was completely wrong. The trust did not support any political organization. He said that he had resigned keeping in mind his busy personal life and not owing to anything else. Nobody was responsible for what had happened.

He said that in a democracy Hardik or anybody else was free to say whatever they feel like.

He said that Khodaldham trust was a non-political outfit. ‘The trust is for religious and social causes and not for politics,’ he reiterated.

Notably, Hardik, a Patidar from Kadva faction of the community himself which was governed by Umiyadham trust of Unjha in North Gujarat, had also invited ire of some of the Leuwa community earlier by issuing statement about functioning of Khodaldham trust.

Hardik had backed Congress in the last assembly election. Interestingly son of Naresh Patel had also openly backed a Congress candidate though he claimed that it was because of old family ties.

Naresh Patel who was made a life-long Chairman of the trust is understood to have personal inclination towards Congress. Gajera on the other hand is thought to be personally close to BJP.

Supporters of Naresh Patel had shouted slogans against Gajera during the drama around his resignation recently. Posters depicting Gajera as betrayer had also surfaced here.

Naresh Patel today condemned it.

Had resigned due to busy schedule of my own business, Gajera a family-man :Khodaldham Trust Chairman Naresh Patel

Rajkot:

Chairman of the supreme religious trust of Leuwa Patel community (Khodaldham trust of Kagvad), Naresh Patel today said that he had thought of resignation from his post owing to busy schedule of his own business.

Addressing a press conference here today Patel said that he had handed over his resignation to the secretary of Trust Jeetubhai but after the persuasion by the seniors of his community he took it back.

He categorically said that it was his own decision and no one else should be held responsible for it. He also said that it was his fault that he could not himself clarify the situation earlier as he was out of station.

Patel also condemned the incident of slogan shouting and posters against Trust President Paresh Gajera. He said that Gajera was like a family member for him.

Notably the high-voltage drama around the resignation of Patel that started on April 3 ended the next day with the confirmation of his taking it back.

It was claimed by PAAS leader Hardik Patel that Patel had resigned due to the pro-BJP stance of several trustees including Gajera. Patel today however said that it was not correct.

Gajera himself was also present in the press conference of the trust today.

DeshGujarat