Cong woos ‘sidelined’ Patels to oust BJP

This was probably for the first time in the recent past that the party recalled Chimanbhai Patel as the Patel Chief Minister from Congress “who brought development to Gujarat”. Chimanbhai was given much importance with his picture on the main poster along with those of Sardar Patel,Sonia Gandhi,Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi.

The speakers,including Minister of State for Medium and Small-Scale Industry Dinsha Patel,and senior party leaders Narhari Amin and Siddharth Patel,sought support of the Patidar Community to oust the Narendra Modi government.

They criticised the government’s “anti-people policy” and “desire to force the Patels into margin”.

Amin said the Patidars have contributed immensely in the development of Gujarat and now the government was trying to sideline them. He alleged that Modi had created an atmosphere of terror even among his own ministers who are afraid to speak out.

Siddharth Patel accused the government of looting the resources of the state by giving away Gauchar land to industries.

Natu Patel,the main architect of the event,alleged that the government had made a lot of efforts to scuttle the community,but in vain.

Around 1,500 BJP workers from Mehsana district joined Congress during the event,which was webcast in 140 countries..