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Journalism of Courage
The much-hyped show of strength held by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel against Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Dholka town in Ahmedabad district on Saturday evening turned out to be damp squib with hardly 3,000-odd people turning up at the venue against the expected 50,000.
In its run-up,the meeting of Patidar Samaj Sangathan,which was planned by Keshubhai,Maha Gujarat Janta Party MJP president Gordhan Zadaphia and other leaders of the influential Patel community including Union ministers belonging to the Congress,was billed as a challenge to Modi.
The first setback came for Keshubhai when Nirma group owner Karsanbhai Patel,a leading state industrialist,failed to show up for the meet. Organisers of the meet said he pulled out at the last minute.
Though leaders like Union minister Dinsha Patel,former state Congress chief and MLA Sidharath Patel and Kagvad Khodal Dham Trust head Naresh Patel were there,they went into a huddle when they saw the small crowd,mainly of Leuva Patels.
Not a single Kadva Patel community leader turned up,as they had for other events of the community this year.
In his speech,Keshubhai steered clear of any political comments,just repeating what he has been saying of late,Dar ke age jeet hai Beyond the fear lies victory. He said he would not make any political comments since it was a community event.
