Surat: The city unit of Congress cancelled its roadshow scheduled on Friday within hours of its announcement on Thursday following ‘warning’ from Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). The roadshow in Varachha area was to be lead by Congress state president Amit Chavda.
However, Congress leaders claimed that the event was cancelled because of change in Chavda’s program at the last moment.
The roadshow was to start from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue in Mangadh Chowk, which had become the centre of Patidar quota movement in 2015.
As the Congress announced the roadshow, PAAS convener Alpesh Kathiriya released a couple of text messages on social media. Under the heading of PAAS Gujarat, one of the messages in Gujarati read “Thanks to Congress high command for accepting the challenge of PAAS. This is just the beginning, the fight will continue”.
In another message, Kathiriya wrote “Patidar will remain present to welcome you at the statue”.
Soon after the messages went viral on social media, Congress cancelled the rally and made the announcement.
“We had challenged Congress to hold public meeting of their top leaders in Patidar areas. They tried this on the last day of campaigning hence we decided to welcome them,” said Kathiriya.
City Congress president Babu Rayka said, “The roadshow has not been cancelled due challenge from PAAS. But it was put off as Chavda has been called by the high-command for some urgent work.”
Meanwhile, Congress candidates continued to hold bike rallies and door to door campaign in Patidar dominated areas on Thursday.