In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Patel agitation leader Hardik Patel has accused Modi and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) of using the Patidar community for political benefits. He claimed that Modi “used Patidars against Muslims during the 2002 riots but dumped them after winning the Assembly polls following the riots”.
Stating Modi responsible for the 2002 massacre, he wrote, “Everybody knows that Narendra Modi first became chief minister of Gujarat taking the benefit of 2002 riots and then became Prime Minister of the country.”
He alleged that almost 120 youths from Patidar community are rotting in jail after being convicted in six major cases of the 2002 riots.
“Many Patidar youths have been sentenced (by courts) in riots cases,” he wrote. “All these Patel youths are rotting in jails of Gujarat. Modiji is now Prime Minister. He can recommend to the President for release of Patel youths involved in riots and get them released,” he added.
“But, I know Modiji will not do that as he wants to show the country and the world that he is a secular person. Modiji has misused Gujaratis and particularly Patidars.”
Hardik Patel has been living in Udaipur since the Gujarat High Court ordered him stay outside the state for next six months while granting him bail in July.
