Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel came down heavily on Hardik Patel on Wednesday and described the Patidar agitation spearhead as foolish, a newbie and a Congress agent. The BJP leader made the references while addressing a press conference immediately after Hardik announced his outfit PAAS' support for the Congress that has promised to provide quota benefits to the community.
"Fools proposed the reservation formula, and fools have accepted it," Patel said, lashing out at both the Congress and Hardik. In Delhi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also ridiculed the Congress for "self-deception and deceiving public" by promising to provide quota benefits to the community over and above the 50% quota for SC, ST and OBC.
Ridiculing Hardik's assertion that the 50% reservation cap was only a Supreme Court suggestion, Patel wondered if he even knew what a Supreme Court bench was, and reiterated that any quota of more than 50% was not possible.
"Hardik is nadaan (foolish), navo nishaliyo (newbie). He wouldn't understand all this, but Congress leaders and lawyers like Kapil Sibal should," he said.
The BJP leader got worked up when it was pointed out to him during the press conference that Hardik had criticised his "fools" comment, and launched a vicious attack on him.
"Hardik is a fool. He got temporary influence, but he will be lost. He won't be able to show his face to anyone. He is a black spot on Patidar community, and has no right to take the name of Sardar Patel," he said.
For good measure, the senior BJP leader also reminded Hardik that he (Patel) had been an MLA far longer than the latter's age.
Jaitley does not normally respond to unrelated questions during official briefings on Cabinet decisions, but he seized the opportunity on Wednesday, in reply to a question, to demolish the Congress "continuing to mislead the people in Gujarat."
Any reservation beyond 50% is not possible as it is the law laid down by the Supreme Court and only last week it chastised the Rajasthan government for overshooting the ceiling to give quota benefits to Gurjars and others, Jaitley said.
"You can deceive the people and yourself, but in elections only those promises can be made to each other and the public that can be implemented."
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