As section of Kshatriya leaders say community backs BJP, members from Amreli counter: ‘Protest will continue’

“I should remind you that this press conference has been organised in Kshatriya Rajput Garasiya Boarding whereas yesterday’s press conference was held in Kamalam (BJP office). The leaders who were present there are our brothers and respected individuals. There is no internal wrangling. But what they said is half-truth at best… Your truth and my truth can be different,” Khuman said.

He added that of the 562 princely states in India, 300 to 325 were in Gujarat alone. Among those in Gujarat, more than 100 were kingdoms of Kathi Kshatriya Darbars with the largest population in Amreli district, said Khuman.

Arrangements being made for Sunday’s Khatriya sammelan in Rajkot. (Express File Photo)

“When a community is so large, no one individual, myself included, can claim to have a contract to speak on behalf of the entire community.” Kathi Darbars are one of the caste groups of Kshatriya community in Gujarat.

“The issue is, where did the said the meeting take place? It was in Kamalam, the BJP office, whereas this one is being held in Garasiya Rajput hostel and we have Kshatriya leaders with us here,” said Khuman who belongs to the Jogidas Khuman family of Savarkundla.

Addressing the media at the BJP office on Friday, ABKKS president Munna Vinchhiya had said his community backs the BJP. “Ours is a community committed to the cause of Hindutva. Today, when the world is experiencing political chaos and instability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term… At such a time, Kathi Kshatriya community, which is committed to the ideology of Hindutva and patriotism, extends full support to Modi and BJP in the 2024 elections.”

Ramku Khachar, another ABKKS leader had said the core committee of Kathi Darbars – which includes leaders from across Saurashtra – held a meeting and decided to support the BJP because “Modi has helped build a temple of Lord Ram, the patron deity of the community, in Ayodhya and is also helping develop Surajdeval, a shrine dedicated to sun god in Surendranagar”.

Asked if his community forgives Rupala, Ramku had said, “We don’t have much to do with that issue. We understand that muck will come on the surface if one cleans a tank. There is no problem at community level and it is not our character to bow down or force someone to apologise… When it is about Narendra Modi, it is our moral duty to support whoever candidate he has fielded.”

On Saturday, Khuman said they were not called to the meeting. “None of us who are sitting here knew about it. It is said that politics can create rifts between two brothers also. Here, we are dealing with an entire community. So, there can be different truths for different individuals…”

“Representatives of these many states have come to express the feelings of youths hailing from common families of the community. We are trying to give voice to the feeling of shock they felt after yesterday’s press conference,” he added.

Maintaining that Rupala’s apology lacked sincerity, Khuman said: “There is a difference between slip of tongue and expression of what lies deep inside you.

Additionally, apologies that were tendered after protests everywhere lacked sincerity. The central message from yesterday’s press conference was that keeping in mind the national scenario and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we should give up this (protests)…”

“However, nowhere are we saying that we are against the BJP. The issue is limited to Rajkot seat only. This agitation will continue until his (Rupala’s) candidature is cancelled. We are doing this press conference to convey that it will be the responsibility of BJP leadership to prevent this agitation intensifying gradually,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nirmalaba, head of Vihaldham — a religious place of the Kshatriyas at Paliyad village in Botad district — called on Rupala at the latter’s residence in Rajkot on Friday to bless him.