Tamil Nadu

Suspension viewed as anti-Patel

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: The suspension of the five dissident Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) members of the Gujarat Assembly by the party high command has been viewed as an attack on the ‘Patels’ in the State.

When the suspension was announced by the party high command in Delhi, all the five dissidents were attending a convention in Amreli district under the aegis of the ‘Sardar Patel Utkarsha Samiti’, formed in Surat last month to mobilise the land-owning farmers against the alleged anti-farmers policy of the Narendra Modi Government.

The suspended members expressed no regrets and said they were “happy” to be suspended from a party which was totally divested of any political ideology.

Former minister Baukubhai Unghad said they would continue to hold such conventions all over the state to fight against “injustice to Patels” by the Modi Government. Dhirubhai Gajera, who was also suspended, said the BJP in Gujarat had been reduced to the level of “Modi-Advani” party.

He alleged that the Modi Government had unleashed more corruption in five years than the Congress Governments in the last 50 years. He also publicly acknowledged to have voted for Pratibha Patil, the United Progressive Alliance-Left nominee in the Presidential election.

Former Chief Minister Suresh Mehta described the suspension as “unfortunate.” He said the party should take necessary measures rather than throwing out those who complained.

The three others suspended were Gordhan Jhadafiya, former Minister of State for home; Bechardas Bhadani, a former minister; and Balubhai Tanti. Incidentally, all the five suspended belong to the Patel community.

Two MLAs, Sidhhartha Parmar and Ramilaben Desai, were suspended from the party a few months ago for openly criticising Mr. Modi and his administration.

The party state unit president, Purshottam Rupala, said the five were sharing platform with Congress leaders to malign the party and “instigate” people against the Government. He said the dissidents had been instrumental in damaging the party’s image but disagreed that it would cause any damage in the coming elections.

The suspension, however, had an immediate impact in Surat where Mr. Rupala was on a two-day visit for a pre-election survey. Some BJP workers staged a black-flag demonstration near where Mr. Rupala was to address a meeting of the party workers.

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