Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel's close aides, accused the 'quota spearhead' of "spending the community's money on furthering his personal interests" and that "he has been favouring and listening to his distant relative, rather than to his PAAS colleagues." The allegations were levelled by Hardik's close aides Chirag Patel and Ketan Patel who were co-accused in the sedition case and had spent time in jail.
Chirag and Ketan alleged that the 23-year-old Hardik has become a ‘crorepati’ (millionaire) within one year of launching the Patel quota agitation. “Normally, people find it difficult to make both ends meet after going to jail. But, it is exactly opposite in your case as you have become a crorepati after going to jail,” Chirag and Ketan claimed.
”Because of your dictatorial approach, our dream of getting reservation has been shattered. For your personal gains, you have been boasting in the media only about your imprisonment. You must not forgot we also went to jail.” Chirag and Ketan asked Hardik to stop behaving in such a manner or else they would reveal some of the “darkest secrets” related to the agitation.
The two leaders wrote in a letter to Hardik, "The Patidar community had dreamt of OBC status a year ago. But, you have dashed those hopes completely. The community had come out in open to support PAAS's call, 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."
The letter goes on to say, "The way you (Hardik) have been trying to gain the community's sympathy by boasting about your nine-month jail term should be questioned. You should not forget, it was not you alone, but we too have spent jail terms as co-accused in the sedition case," claims the letter.
They further alleged, "You and your Vipul Kaka (distant relative) have been enjoying a lavish lifestyle in a bungalow and spending your community's donations on being ferried in a luxurious car. This money was meant for the martyrs of our community, who had laid down their lives during the OBC quota agitation in August last year."
“Your ambition to become a leader, selfishness and urge to be wealthy has caused huge damage to the community as well as to our agitation,” alleged the PAAS leaders. ”People of our community very well know that instead of helping kin of those who lost their lives during our agitation, you and your close friends are living a lavish life. You and your uncle Vipulbhai bought expensive cars from the donations collected to help the martyrs and to fund the agitation,” said the letter.
By Premji
