Farmers, workers, Dalits in danger: Hardik

› I am here to make you aware... We are losing time... Whole of India is in danger. If you don’t wake up, we will be finished.

HARDIK PATEL, Patidar leader

SAGAR/BHOPAL: Gujarat’s Patidar leader Hardik Patel asked Bundelkhand farmers at a rally on Sunday who they thought was responsible for the region’s “parched land, dry rivers, struggling animals and lack of progress”.

While insisting he was not in Bundelkhand for politics, he spoke of votes and the need to send the “right people” to Madhya Pradesh assembly and Parliament. Madhya Pradesh assembly polls are expected this year.

“I am here to make you aware. We are losing time. Our farmers, workers, Dalits, backward communities… are in danger. Whole of India is in danger. If you don’t wake up, we will be finished. We have to change an era,” he said in the rally at Garhakota town of Sagar district.

“If you vote for small gains, they will continue to rule us and we have to continue agitations like these,” said Patel.

Thousands turned up for the afternoon rally organised by Pichda Varg Sanyukt Morcha and local farmer organisations.

His fellow young leaders from Gujarat, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani, were scheduled to address the rally but could not make it. The troika of leaders had mounted a challenge for the BJP in the December 2017 Gujarat polls. Patel said he was ready to fight for Bundelkhand, but people would have to stand by him. Without naming CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he said those in power knew what would happen if farmers unite. “Then nothing can be done even by the computer of the computer baba,” he added, again without naming anyone.

Referring to the MP government granting minister of state status to five religious readers, Patel said, “If one baba can become CM, why can’t five become ministers of state. I respect these babas, but now they should work for the people.”

State rural development minister Gopal Bhargava, whose home turf was the venue for the rally, said Patel’s statements had nothing to do with Bundelkhand’s ground reality. “My people know who resolves their issues. He will not come from Gujarat to resolve their issues. I trust my people,” added Bhargava.

State Congress chief spokesperson KK Mishra said, “Hardik Patel was exposing the misrule and corruption of BJP governments at the Centre and in states. Congress appreciates his move.”

Talking about facing an ink attack in Ujjain on Saturday, Patel said at the rally it was done by an ‘andh bhakt’ (blind follower). “He ruined my new shirt, blackened my face but I forgave him. He had come there at somebody’s behest. I am just 24 years old, I don’t know why BJP people are so afraid of me?”

Police have arrested Ujjain resident Milan Gurjar, 30, for the ink attack on Patel. A court on Sunday sent Gurjar to judicial custody.

With inputs from Sandeep Vatsa