Nitin Patel, a senior minister in Gujarat government, today faced the wrath of Patel community members who forced him to leave the venue of a meet to condole the death of a youth.
The incident took place at Modhera cross-roads here where a huge gathering had been organised to condole the death of Mayur Patel, who was shot during the violent agitation of the Patel community for OBC reservation in August and died at an Ahmedabad hospital a week ago.
Over 20,000 people from all over north Gujarat had gathered at the meet, said Mayur's uncle Dinesh Patel.
State Health Minister Nitin Patel made an unexpected appearance at the meet. However, as soon as he stepped down from his car, several Patel women cornered him and started shouting slogans against him and the BJP government for alleged atrocities inflicted on Patels during the agitation.
Several others from the mob joined them and asked him to leave the place.
Though local sources claimed that stones were hurled at the minister's car, police denied it.
"As soon as Patels asked Nitin Patel to leave, as the community has barred people from the government to attend such gatherings, Nitin Patel left the venue. There was no violence. However, some BJP men who came afterwards were manhandled by the mob," said Mehsana superintendent of police J R Mothalia, adding that no complaint has been filed in this regard.
