Barely a week after pro-quota stir leader Hardik Patel’s show of strength–‘Patidar Mahapanchayat’ organised on the day of Narendra Modi Government’s fourth anniversary (May 26), differences within his organisation Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) surfaced on Monday.
Hardik’s former close aides Dinesh Bhambaniya, Varun Patel, Reshma Patel, Dinesh Patel and Dilip Sabva literally opened up a front against him and also threatened to take legal actions following the supreme PAAS leader’s allegations that they had received crores to disrupt the pro-quota Patidar agitation.
The 24-year-old Patidar leader made these allegations after a series of videos went viral on social media showing senior community members interacting with members of PAAS and talking indirectly about money being taken by his former close aides.
In the videos Mansukh Patel, who played important role as mediator between PAAS leader and the BJP ruled State Government ahead of the assembly polls is being seen hinting about the ‘deal’. Mansukh was also instrumental in organising the first mega rally of Hardik Patel in August 2015 at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad, which made Hardik a force to reckon with.
On this Hardik stated that the videos were the proof of BJP government having offered money to break the agitation and defame him. He enlisted names of several of his former associates, including Dinesh Bhambaniya, Varun Patel, Reshma Patel, Dinesh Patel and Dilip Sabva, as having received anywhere between Rs 4 crore to Rs 8 crore to abandon PAAS and join BJP ahead of 2017 Assembly polls. He also took names of several businessmen and BJP leaders from Patidar community who offered his former close aides money.
Taking Hardik’s allegations seriously, Dinesh Bambhaniya, once considered as the most trusted soldier of Hardik filed a police complaint against him on Monday. According to Bambhania, Hardik must provide proof of his allegations. Another ex-PAAS leader Sabva threatened to file a legal case against Hardik.
Varun and Reshma who have joined BJP denied allegations and warned him saying that Hardik can apologise to them in writing within five days and in case he fails to do so, they would file a defamation case against him.