‘Drunk’ son of Guj dy CM denied flight entry

Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel’s son Jaimin Patel was not allowed to board a Qatar Airways flight to Greece on Monday for reportedly being “heavily drunk”.

Within hours of the incident on Monday, Patel accused BJP’s “opponents” of plotting to defame him. Jaimin Patel reportedly arrived at the Ahmedabad airport in a "heavily drunken" state and argued with airline staff.

The deputy chief minister told reporters in Gandhinagar, “My son, his wife and daughter were going for a vacation. He was not feeling well. His wife called up home and then they decided to return home. Our opponents are trying to tarnish our image by spreading false information.” Incidentally, the deputy CM found support from unexpected quarters.

Congress spokesperson and MLA Shaktisinh Gohil tweeted on Tuesday, “Nitinbhai Patel had said this is a conspiracy 2 defame him. I demand #Gujarat govt 2 get & release cctv footage from the airport. Without evidence we shldnt allege ppl just coz they R related2 politicians. I will support Nitin bhai if he is right. Pl release cctv footage.”

The Sardar Patel Group (SPG) alleged a conspiracy to cull Patel leadership.

“This has been a conspiracy by Modi-Shah to eliminate Nitin Patel from the CM post race. First Keshubapa (former CM Keshubhai Patel) and then Anandiben were sidelined. They want to finish the Patel leadership in the state,” said SPG general secretary Nachiket Mukhi.

The BJP dismissed Mukhi’s allegations. “Nitinbhai is one of our top leaders. There are nine other Patel ministers in the cabinet,” said BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya.