(Source: Express Photo) (Source: Express Photo)

Rebel BJP MLA from Dhari Nalin Kotadiya held a meeting with Patidars in Surat on Wednesday, asking them to continue their agitation. He also urged them to boycott the BJP in the upcoming local body elections.

Kotadiya, who is a Patidar, addressed a meeting at M D Park society at Pasodara village in Sarthana, on the outskirts of Surat city where he met Surat PAAS members and the Patidar youths who recently announced that they will change their religion to get benefit of reservation.

Over thousands of Patidar men and women were present. Addressing them, Kotadiya said, “The state government is doing an injustice towards Patidars across the state by using the tool of police for grilling the innocent Patidars who are fighting for quota. The situation is so critical that over 500 families have decided to change their religion to get reservation benefit.”

Hardik Patel’s lawyer B M Mangukia also came to Surat on Tuesday night and met Patidar leaders of Surat and appealed them to continue their agitation and show the Patidar power in the upcoming elections. Mangukia also held a public meeting at Punagam late on Tuesday where several Congress Patidar leaders were present.

Congress leader Dinesh Kachhadiya said, “We have seen that the BJP government has done injustice towards Patidar community and they are misusing police power to demoralise Patel youths, grilling them in different cases. In a democratic country, everybody has got the right to express himself. We are there to support Patidars and fight with them.”

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