By Bharat Pandya

(Based on conversation with DeshGujarat)

I was a witness to ‘Patidar Abhivadan Samiti’ function in Surat. This is not a press release. This is the other side of of the event. I don’t’ want to associate any earlier happening to this. This is just the other side truth of the coin. I am writing this not as a spokesperson of Gujarat BJP but as a citizen Bharat Pandya.

Only 150-200 persons created ruckus for two hours. Some driven by curiosity stood up to see what was happening. Some others were perhaps having joy looking at the schene, but thousands were sitting silently.

Even after all this ruckus, the karyakarta, government and administration maintained peace and restraint.

For the first time in these many years I saw that even after ‘Z’ category security attached, as many as 500-600 press persons, karyakarta, society, police and unidentified people were freely roaming in ‘D’ area located opposite the stage. It should be mentioned here that Chief Minister Vijaybhai and party’s national president Amitbhai both are accorded ‘z’ category security.

Throwing chairs, beating helper in order to force him to shut off lights, creating ruckus, blowing whistles, provoking journos by beating them, shouting slogans in garb of journalist, climbing stage, misleading people via SMS and Whatsapp messages, blocking the road near Savji Korat bridge, pelting stones, disallowing people to enter inside, throwing chairs toward women, speaking unacceptable language ……. Their plan was to provoke the police men and trigger lathicharge. They wanted to propagandize ‘Lathicharge over Patels in Patidar sammelan’ and trigger violence in Varachha and other places across Gujarat. This was a professional plan.

Even after constant ruckus, all speeches were delivered. Time of the function was 6.30 to 8.30. The programme started timely and was completed at 8.15 pm. All speeches were around 7 to 8 minute long in duration. Yes, the total duration of function was cut short but not so much. The programme went on even after continuous activities opposite the stage like throwing bottles, caps, scarfs and other things, whistling, slogan chanting and noises.

Response to ‘Jay Patidar’, ‘Jay Sardar’, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ slogans by audience was greater in this function compared to other public meetings.

During Amitbhai’s speech, the atmosphere was completely peaceful. Response to the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jay’ he chanted was greater than even common BJP public meetings(only one man who was sitting in media section chanted slogan two-three times).

It is worth noting that all (Patidar)community leaders had arrived in the function and they were on stage. All of them admired tolerance that was displayed. They said even they would not be able to display so much tolerance.

Those held for ruckus were released by Amitbhai and Vijaybhai later.

Husbands of Congress Councillors were reportedly among those held by police. I don’t have segregation of all of those who were held, otherwise I could put it here.

Nuisance plan of AAP, political violent color of Congress with Hardik…… I have attempted to mark-analyse it without going into the mixing of the events that took place before and after this function.

DeshGujarat