Patidar groups begin virtual war on social media

Besides PAAS leaders of Surat, other leaders from Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions — Manoj Panara, Varasha Patel, Dilip Sabwa, Reshma Patel, Lalit Vasoya — have landed in Surat and held meetings in Katargam, Kapodara, Sarthana, Simada, Varachha, Kapodara, Punagam areas since Sunday night. Senior advocate B M Mangukia also joined them.

Talking to The Indian Express, Surat PAAS co-convenor Dharmik Malaviya said, “We have started holding meetings in Patidar-dominated areas since Sunday to remind them of the police torture on the GMDC ground in Ahmedabad on August 25 last year and the subsequent sacrifice of 14 Patidar youths for the cause of our community. We are not stopping them from attending the meeting. We tell the people that if they attend the programme, they have to stand up and raise ‘Jay Sardar Jay Patidar’, one by one or jointly. Our protest will be non-violent. This is state government’s ploy to divide the community. They want to pit rich Patidars against middle-class and lower middle-class Patidars. We will not allow this to happen.”

Reacting to this, PASS member Mahesh Sawani said, “We have come to know about the war on different WhatsApp groups between both the camps. The girls who had lost their father and had got married in our mass marriage programme have voluntarily expressed their support to me. Since PAAS has lost our community support, they have started attacking us through social media like WhatsApp. Despite this, our September 8 event will be successful.”