'Pistol garland' for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue puts DG Vanzara in Patel line of fire

SURAT: The Patidar community has strongly objected to former IPS officer D G Vanzara's garlanding Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue with a festoon of toy pistol and pens in Patel-dominated Varachha on Sunday.

Vanzara was on a day's visit on the invitation of Jaher Nagrik Sanman Samiti, an organisation of his and rape-accused religious preacher Asaram's supporters.
Even as Vanzara sided with Patidars in their opposition to the 10% quota for economically backward classes announced by the Gujarat government, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (Paas) sought an unconditional apology from him for "insulting" India's Iron Man.

Paas member and Hardik Patel's aide, Dinesh Bambhaniya, told TOI, "If Vanzara fails to apologise, we will ban his entry into Patidar-dominated areas. He has tried to intimidate Patidars by such an act but we are descendents of Sardar Patel and won't give in to any such tactic." Dharmik Malaviya, Surat PAAS convener, said, "Our workers would go to his programmes and oppose him if he does anything similar."

A defiant Vanzara said, "Symbols change with situation and time. Pen signifies law and pistol is a symbol of strength. Sardar Patel had spent his entire life with both these things."