‘Sycophants, bend over backwards’: Ex-CM Vaghela tears into royals for extending support to PM Modi
Imploring the gathering to vote against the BJP, Vaghela appealed “to ensure that the vote doesn’t go that side come what may”.
2 min read
Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela. (Express photo: Javed Raja/File)Former chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela advised Kshatriyas to “not regret” after casting their vote and chastised royals for “sycophancy”.
“They said we want to keep the maryada of the Prime Minister. We (Kshatriya community) kept maryada of Prime Minister, he (PM) didn’t… Today’s royals are sycophant, bend over backwards, they are not fit to be called royals… No need to bow to them or respect them, neglect them and ask them to get lost,” said Vaghela addressing a Kshatriya Asmita Sammelan at Chandisar in Dholka of Ahmedabad, a day after some royals met in Rajkot and supported a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Adding that both Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji were led by Muslim leaders, Vaghela went on to say that the two “were not opposed to Muslims…and that’s why Kshatriyas today cannot be opposed to any one specific community. They hug all communities.”
Vaghela alleged that his community members have been oppressed. “A lot of our community leaders, our community’s women have been oppressed to make sure that they don’t give speeches, and they don’t go out. But we don’t compromise, we don’t do deals. We will not join the BJP.”
Imploring the gathering to vote against the BJP, Vaghela appealed “that instead of regretting they (the Kshatriyas) ensure that the vote doesn’t go that side, come what may”.
The royal families’ support, taken after a brainstorming session (chintan shibir) led by Mandhatasinh Jadeja, came on a day when PM Modi addressed three election meetings in the Saurashtra region. The royals had appealed to the community to vote for the BJP in large numbers.
You May Like
