Hardik Patel has rubbished the allegations against him.
Highlights
- Warring factions holding separate functions on agitation anniversary
- Two leaders have written strongly worded letter to Hardik Patel
- They accuse him of selfishness, furthering personal interests
Ahead of the first anniversary of the Patidar agitation for reservation in jobs and education, differences are growing between the core members of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti or PAAS and its convenor Hardik Patel. The leaders have accused Mr Patel of "spending the community's money to further his personal interests".
Last year, on August 25, the organisation had held a massive rally in Ahmedabad to announce their agitation. The rally was followed by a crackdown at the venue, and the arrest of Hardik Patel, which led to largescale violence across the state.
To commemorate the anniversary, the two warring factions have announced separate programmes across the state.
Two core group members of the group, Chirag Patel and Ketan Patel, have also written a strongly-worded three page letter to Hardik, accusing him of spending the community's funds for personal interests and "favouring and listening to his distant relative, rather than to his PAAS colleagues".
"The Patidar community had dreamt of OBC status a year ago. But you have dashed those hopes completely," the letter read.
The Patel community, the letter further said, had supported the call for agitation, "but now it feels that it had to face adversities because of your personal interests, selfishness and your desire to be rich by misusing the community".
Chirag said they were aggrieved at the way the agitation was being led by Hardik.
"He (Hardik) has a different lifestyle now. He used to move in a small car and now expensive cars are being gifted to him. Why are people gifting cars to him? Hardik needs to introspect,'' he said.
Hardik, who is currently out of Gujarat as per the bail condition of the High Court, has rubbished the allegations and said people with vested interests were trying to damage the agitation.
"I was in jail for 9 months and have been out of Gujarat for several months. How can I be accused of misusing funds? I'm working for my community. I neither have any monetary nor political ambition. I'll continue to work for my community,'' he said.