Gandhinagar: In reply to media queries, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today said that the attack on Aam Admi Party (AAP) convoy in Visavdar taluka yesterday was over some AAP leader’s past remarks insulting Brahim community, Hindus and sadhu, saints.

Patel said, ‘ I got to know about this incident through media. As per the information I have, when AAP cadres went to Somnath earlier, the Brahman community over some past remark by AAP leader insulting Brahmin community, Hindus and Hindu sadhu sants had stopped AAP leaders in Somnath and we had seen that in media. And we have seen in media that AAP leader tendered apology also saying that he was sorry if he had said anything insulting Hindus. Yesterday they went to Visavdar taluka village in rally mode. Visavdar based Brahman community leaders and others protested against the rally, over which a clash occurred.’

When asked about AAP allegation that BJP goons were responsible for the attack, Nitin Patel said, ‘Each political party go through this. We had also faced this. Rallies see black flags and protest. We have also seen it a lot. We tolerated it a lot. These (same) people and the others used to show black flags, do rioting, compelling a public meeting to stop, stone pelting on convoys etc. our public meetings, our government functions, these people and others used to show black flags, rioting compelling public meeting to stop, stone pelting on our convoys. Whatever is political ideology, views should be allowed to be expressed in democratic manner. If some people want to protest, they can do it peacefully,’

Patel said, ‘Same people who in the past were into lot of rioting, who threw shoes, passed remarks, who published comments in abusive language on social media, if those same people are now perhaps victim of such incident then they might be feeling pain due to that. I too feel pain, I believe that none form any party may face it. We don’t encourage it. Those who were doing same in the past, now if are on receiving side and tolerating the same, over their past remark on someone’s faith or community, then it is now upon them to decide how to resolve the issue.’ DeshGujarat

Meanwhile cross complaints are filed in Leriya village clash case. AAP cadre Haresh Savaliya has named Giju Vikma, Kunal Vikma, Hiren Vikma Abhi Vikma, Jitu Raviya, Parthiv Vikma, Uday Maheta, Kana Gor, Jasmin Shastri, Abhi Goswami, Jitendra Maheta, Dinesh Vikma, Kishor Dobariya as accused along with other unidentified persons from Leriya and Mandavad under sections 307, 323, 324, 294(kh), 506,(2), 427, 337, 143, 148, 149, and GP act 135.

On the other hand, a complaint has been filed by Satish Chavdangre against AAP’s Pravin Ram, Haresh Savaliya, Jaysukh Paghdar and around 40 cadres of AAP alleging that when they were shouting slogans, the accused were attacked with sword, dhoka, steel pipe and stones and an attempt was done to crush them under a car. Complaint against AAP cadres and leaders is filed under sections 307, 323, 324, 294(kh), 506(2), 337, 143, 147, 148, 149 and GP act 135.