Quota row: BJP Vice-President Pushottam Rupala faces protest

AHMEDABAD: BJP vice-president Purshottam Rupala and other party members today faced protest by Patel community women during two separate events in Mehsana and Patan districts as they demanded reservation under the OBC quota while beating steel dishes with spoons.

Rupala, along with Mehsana Lok Sabha MP Jayshree Patel and Unjha MLA Narayan Patel, was present at the venue to give cheques to farmers and address BJP workers at an event in Unjha hosted by the town's Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Unjha Assembly BJP MLA Narayan Patel said.

Rupala and others had to leave the venue to avoid any untoward incident, he added.

According to Patel, women of the Patel community protested against Rupala seeking reservation for the Patel community under the OBC quota.

When he was asked if they were also protesting against alleged police atrocities, Patel said, "It is implied".

After this event, Rupala reached the neighbouring Patan district to attend another BJP programme at Chansama road area, where he again faced protest

Sardar Patel Group (SPG), leading the Patel agitation, had earlier declared that they would not allow BJP leaders in areas dominated by them.

Incidentally, the Patel community protest comes just ahead of local body polls in Gujarat. The local body polls are scheduled to be held in October but since the Supreme Court has stayed them due to delimitation, they will be held once the top court gives its nod.