Gujarat CM accuses Cong of backing Patidar agitation

Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], Oct 30 (ANI):Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday said that the meeting between Congress Party and Patidar leaders has confirmed that Congress has been behind all the agitations.

"Today a meeting was held between agitators and Congress Party. I had been saying this before as well that the Congress is behind the agitation. The agitators are also Congress agents," Rupani told reporters.

Alleging that the Congress earlier stayed silent on the prime agitation about Patidar quota and inclusion of Patidar in OBC quota, Rupani said that the party is "now speaking up to get votes."

Commenting on the alleged meeting between Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Hardik Patel, Rupani said that it is has further cemented that Patel is going to join Congress, and the whole meeting was just a background that Congress is creating

"Although he (Patel) denies (meeting with Gandhi), it has confirmed that all of them have colluded to do a fixed match. Public knows. It will not make a difference," Rupani added.

Rupani further added that he is confident that BJP will win more than 150 seats in the polls.

"A moral binding is behind the public of Gujarat, where truth will prevail, and BJP will win," Rupani said.

Despite Hardik Patel's anti-BJP stand, Rupani expressed confidence in Patidar community's loyalty to the party.

"Patidar community has always been with BJP and will be with BJP in future. Congress is misleading the Patidar community," Rupani added.

Earlier in the day, Patidar leaders met with the Congress leadership, wherein they listed their demands and the party agreed to four of them, but the demand for Patidar reservation did not reach a final conclusion.

Hardik Patel extended the deadline for the Congress Party till November 7 to clear its stand on the Patidar community's demand for quota.

The Patidar leader has earlier said that he will extend support to the Congress if it supports their community and provides reservation.

The Congress is counting on Patidar votes to sway the election results of Gujarat polls in their favour and overthrow BJP which has been in power since 1995 in the state.

The polls will be conducted in two phases.

The polling for the first phase will be held on December 9 and for the second phase on December 14.

The counting of the votes will be held on December 18. (ANI)