'I decided to hit Patel after my pregnant wife suffered during Patidar agitation'
Tarun Gajjar, the person who slapped Hardik Patel at an election rally in Surendranagar on Friday, claimed that he was not connected with any political party, but had done so to teach the Patidar reservation stir leader a lesson.
Gajjar suffered severe injuries after he was overpowered and beaten up by Congress workers and Hardik's supporters. He was admitted to hospital, where he told reporters that he had suffered personally because of Hardik's protests, and was planning to attack Hardik for over three years.
"I am not associated with any political party. My wife was pregnant when the Patidar agitation took place (in August 2015). She was undergoing treatment at a hospital. Everything was also shut when I went to get medicine for my child. I had suffered then, and had decided that I would hit him, and teach him a lesson," he told reporters from the hospital bed. However, several photos of Gajjar with Mehsana MP Jayshreeben Patel and other BJP leaders, hinting at his links with politicians, were being shared online.
The incident took place in Baldana village of Surendranagar's Wadhwan taluka when Hardik was addressing an election rally. Gajjar got on the stage and slapped Hardik, before he was overpowered and taken away.
Gajjar claimed that he had twice planned to attack Hardik earlier this month.
"I had planned to slap Hardik during his rally in Kalol on April 13, but he did not come there. I then planned to attack him in Balisana village (in Patan) on April 17, but I failed at the time. I got success finally today," he said further, clarifying that he was not against the Patidar community, but was opposed to Hardik.
While Hardik said that the BJP was behind the attack on him and was trying to harm him, the party denied the allegation. "The BJP has nothing to do with this incident. It looks like an attempt to gain sympathy," Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said.
He criticising the attack, saying such incidents had no place in a democracy, even as state BJP president Jitu Vaghani accused Hardik of resorting to gimmicks.
The Congress too alleged that BJP was behind the attack, and said that it was a result of the party's realisation that it was losing in the Lok Sabha elections. Surendranagar SP Mahendra Bagria said that Gajjar was not related to any political party.
Meanwhile, state's chief electoral officer S Murali Krishna had sought a report from Surendranagar collector.
Cong demands security for Patel
Following the attack on Hardik Patel, the Congress wrote to state’s chief electoral officer S Murali Krishna, and sought security cover for him. The party pointed out that Hardik was provided Y+ security in the past, but the cover was withdrawn.
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 "Hardik Patel, Tarun Gajjar, Jayshreeben Patel")
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