Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), an organisation led by pro-quota leader Hardik Patel, has suspended its two leaders who had accused Patel of using the ongoing Patidar agitation to fulfil his political ambition.
Around a week ago two leaders — Ketan Patel and Chirag Patel — accused that Hardik was using the pro-quota stir as tool to achieve personal goal and making money. They also claimed that Hardik, who comes from a humble background, started enjoying luxury.
PAAS is demanding reservation for Patidar youths in Government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. Hardik is the face of the agitation even though another organisation Sardar Patel Group (SPG) led by lalji Patel tried to take some credit of mobilising Patidar youths for the purpose.
Terming all the allegations baseless, Hardik himself announced suspension of his two former close aides after a meeting of PAAS conveners at Udaipur in Rajasthan on Sunday. The PAAS leader has made his base in Rajasthan as per the Gujarat High Court's order. He got bail in two sedition cases on the condition that he would stay out of Gujarat for six months. He said that the decision to suspend Ketan and Chirag from the organisation was taken unanimously.
Both the suspended PAAS leaders remained in jail along with Hardik for almost eight months, as they were made co-accused in the sedition case in Ahmedabad following violence post PAAS rally at GMDC ground on August 25 last year.
On August 22 this year, both the former close aides of Hardik made allegations through an open letter indicating that all is not well within PAAS. Both the suspended leaders were among the founders of PAAS. They also alleged that due to Hardik's attitude, the Patidar community didn't get reservation.
Reacting on his suspension from PAAS, Ketan said that he was expecting such undemocratic act from Hardik as he wouldn't tolerate anyone going against him. He, however, said that he would try to expose him by providing evidence.