Days after Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) created a ruckus at BJP chief Amit Shah's event in Surat, members of the same outfit today tried to disrupt two separate events, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani were present.
While police detained as many as 26 PAAS members for trying to raise slogans at Rupani's event in Jasdan taluka in Rajkot district, they took into custody 11 other members at Vaghani's event in Bhavnagar city.
Rupani was in Atkot village in Jasdan taluka today for ground-breaking ceremony of a private hospital and medical college. However, the Patidar community members tried to disrupt his speech by raising slogans.
"We detained 26 members of PAAS when they tried to shout slogans like 'Jai Sardar, Jai Patidar' at Chief Minister's programme. They were trying to disrupt the CM's speech. They were kept at Jasdan police station for nearly five hours," a police official said.
In Bhavnagar, 11 members of the outfit were detained for attempts to disrupt the event where Vaghani was present, Bhavnagar B-division police official said.
"While two persons were detained when they tried to shout slogans and disrupt the programme, nine others had been taken into preventive custody before the event," the official said.
Last Thursday, BJP president Amit Shah along with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and other party leaders were booed off stage as the members of Hardik's organisation created ruckus and vanadalised furniture at a programme to felicitate Patel leaders in Surat.
That event was meant to felicitate Patidar leaders, like newly-appointed state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, central BJP ministers Purshottam Rupala and Manshukh Mandaviya. Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel was also present on the dais.
There were reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi summoned Anandiben to Delhi over the chaos at the Surat event, although the state party unit said it was not aware of it and that there was no official communication regarding the development.
The Patidars, under the banners of PAAS and Sardar Patel Group (SPG), have been demanding reservation under OBC quota for the community.
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Meanwhile, during his address, Rupani reiterated his
government's commitment towards supply of water, electricity, and agricultural services for farmers in the state.
He said the state will benefit from the Saurastra Narmada Avataran Irrigation (Sauni) Yojana, recently launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and added the Centre's farm loan scheme will also prove to be beneficial to farmers.
The programme was also attended by spiritual leader Morari Bapu as well as some state ministers. A group of Patidars also felicitated the guests on the occasion.
