SURAT: The Prajapati community in the city looked a divided lot on protesting against some BJP leaders' alleged utterances against the community on Monday evening.
Though some youngsters from the community took out a rally in the city to protest against chief minister Vijay Rupani, the community leaders claimed that the issue was blown out of proportion. An effigy of Rupani was also burnt in Puna, but sources said that the protesters were Prajapati members of Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI).
It was during an interaction with some community leaders that Rupani had allegedly used a word that many of them took exception to. Shambhu Prajapati, former city Congress president said, "Our community leaders had approached leaders of both the parties demanding representation in ticket distribution. When Congress leadership listened and gave sympathetic reply, BJP leaders said that in this party only major communities are considered while chillar ones are not given much importance. This irked some people and a rally was taken out on Monday night." It is unclear whether Rupani uttered the word or some other BJP leader.
Prajapatis constitute a sizeable number of voters in Katargam assembly constituency. According to figures, out of total of 2.77 lakh voters in Katargam, there are around 85,000 Patidars and roughly 60,000 Prajapati voters.
BJP had made a prominent Prajapati community face Niranjan Janjmera as the mayor in the previous term.
"The entire episode was blown out of proportion. Explanation on alleged utterances was already given by leaders. There was no need to take out a rally. Most of the present at rally were attached to NSUI," a senior community leaders said.
Though some youngsters from the community took out a rally in the city to protest against chief minister Vijay Rupani, the community leaders claimed that the issue was blown out of proportion. An effigy of Rupani was also burnt in Puna, but sources said that the protesters were Prajapati members of Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI).
It was during an interaction with some community leaders that Rupani had allegedly used a word that many of them took exception to. Shambhu Prajapati, former city Congress president said, "Our community leaders had approached leaders of both the parties demanding representation in ticket distribution. When Congress leadership listened and gave sympathetic reply, BJP leaders said that in this party only major communities are considered while chillar ones are not given much importance. This irked some people and a rally was taken out on Monday night." It is unclear whether Rupani uttered the word or some other BJP leader.
Prajapatis constitute a sizeable number of voters in Katargam assembly constituency. According to figures, out of total of 2.77 lakh voters in Katargam, there are around 85,000 Patidars and roughly 60,000 Prajapati voters.
BJP had made a prominent Prajapati community face Niranjan Janjmera as the mayor in the previous term.
"The entire episode was blown out of proportion. Explanation on alleged utterances was already given by leaders. There was no need to take out a rally. Most of the present at rally were attached to NSUI," a senior community leaders said.
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