Hardik Patel Vows to Oust BJP at a Massive Rally in Surat

Hardik Patel asked Patidars to take an oath to oust the BJP from Gujarat after his roadshow from Katargam to Yogi Chawk in Surat on Sunday, 3 December.

According to a report by The Hindu, more than 50,000 people showed up for the Patidar leader’s rally.

The report also said that Patel’s rally pulled a much bigger crowd than that of PM Narendra Modi’s in Bharuch.

Patel alleged he was offered Rs 5 crore by an industrialist to not address the rally.

Blaming the BJP for sidetracking and questioning his “character”, Patel said “they will show blue film of a young man, but not talk of their progress”.

Patel asked his community to “wake up and talk to their relatives about not voting for the BJP”.

I, Hardik Patel, swear by the martyrdom of the 14 Patidars (allegedly killed by the police during reservation quota stir) and vow to cast my vote on 9 and 14 December before 11 am to oust the BJP who are torturing six crore people.

Hardik Patel

Talking about the plight of the farmers, Patel said they are “innocent” and are easily fooled by the “rich”. He said:

We are not thinking about our future. We go out and ask other countries to invest by setting up companies in India... We are only asking for justice. We are fighting for jobs, for the unemployed and eduction for the poor. This government is so rigid... instead of talking about the future and development of our people, they talk like dictators.

According to The Hindu, Patel said he’s here to fight the battle “against those who have killed 14 members of the Patidar community during the agitation in 2015”. He added that the government “made every effort to finish us but we are all united and fighting”.