At least ten persons, including Patel quota leader Lalji Patel, were today detained by the city police for allegedly trying to attack Rutvij Patel, the Gujarat unit chief of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), during his rally here today.
However, while Rutvij held the Congress responsible for the attack, Lalji Patel-led quota body Sardar Patel Group (SPG) claimed the responsibility.
Mehsana District Superintendent of Police Chaitanya Mandlik said, "We have detained ten persons, including Lalji Patel, while trying to attack Rutvij Patel at his rally near Modhera cross roads near the city this afternoon. They will be released once the program ends."
Lalji Patel once worked closely with Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). However, due to some ideological differences, they parted ways some time back.
In an apparent bid to counter the threat of the Patel quota agitation and to pacify the Patidar community ahead of Assembly polls this year, the ruling BJP had recently appointed Rutvij Patel as BJYM's state unit chief.
"When his vehicle rally reached near Modhera cross roads on the outskirts of city this afternoon, some people barged into the rally and allegedly tried to manhandle Rutvij, following which, police nabbed these people and taken them away," said an eye witness.
SPG spokesperson Purvin Patel said Lalji Patel and other members wanted to give a message to BJP that SPG will not rest till their demands are not heard by the state government.
"Even after so many meetings, BJP government has not taken any decision about our demands, including reservation to Patel community. Therefore, Laljibhai and other SPG members today staged protests in Mehsana and confronted Rutvij during his rally," Purvin Patel said.
Meanwhile, Rutvij Patel blamed Congress for trying to disrupt his rally in order to create a rift between him and Patels.
"Patel community today invited me at Mehsana to felicitate me. Those who tried to attack me were anti-social elements sent by Congress, who wants to create a rift between us. But, Patel community is firmly standing besides me," said Patel.
Meanwhile, Congress slammed the young BJP leader for accusing the opposition party of attacking him.
"It shows sheer frustration of BJP leaders, as they are seeing Congress' hand in everything which is going against them. They must have forgotten that Mehsana is the same city, where angry people had burned down houses of BJP leaders and some ministers in the recent past," state Congress spokesperson Himanshu Patel said.
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