Tags:
Journalism of Courage
SURAT, February 23: The Saurashtrian population spread in Varachha, Lambe Hanuman Road and Katargam almost worship former chief minister Keshubhai Patel. Though the Saurashtrians Patels have settled in Surat for decades they still regard Patel as their leader.
When Patel was made to quit the chief minister’s chair after rebellion by Shankersinh Vaghela, the entire Varachha turned against the latter. Their hatred for Vaghela also stemmed from the age old rivalry Patels have with Rajputs. Not only Vaghela, but all his sympathisers also became an object of hatred in Varachha.
BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Surat Lok Sabha constituency Kashiram Rana found himself becoming a persona non grata in Varachha, as the Suarashtrian Patels were suspicious of his role in the coup that toppled Patel.
Rana’s public meeting in Varachha last year was almost called off when angry youths pelted stones at the stage injuring his campaign manager and former mayor Fakirbhai Chauhan. While Chauhan was bleeding profusely afterbeing hit on the head, a couple of other BJP workers were also injured before the police stepped in and chased the crowd away.
Such was the wrath of the crowd that even Patel could not pacify them and stop them from shouting slogans denouncing Rana. The party and police authorities forced Rana to abandon his plans to address a meeting there and he was asked to return midway. Rana is yet to address any public meeting in the area even though anger against him has considerably subsided with time and also because the party has projected Patel to be the next chief minister.
