PAAS suspends Hardik’s ex-aides for smear campaign against him

Ahmedabad, Aug 28 (PTI) Hardik Patel-led PatidarAnamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) today suspended two of his formerassociates for levelling "baseless allegations", days afterthey accused him of using the quota stir as a "tool" tofurther his personal ambitions. The announcement was made by Hardik after a meeting ofall conveners of PAAS at Udaipur in Rajasthan today. Hardik has temporarily moved his base to Rajasthanafter the Gujarat High Court granted him bail last month intwo cases of sedition on condition that he will stay out ofGujarat for six months. "Ketan Patel and Chirag Patel had levelled baselessallegations against me. Thus, all the district conveners ofPAAS today unanimously decided to suspend both of them fromthe quota body," Hardik told media persons in Udaipur afterthe meeting concluded. PAAS has issued a press release here stating thedecision. Cracks developed in PAAS after Chirag and Ketan, oncevery close to Hardik, levelled a string of charges against himin an open letter on August 22. The duo, who were among the founding conveners ofPAAS, had alleged that Hardik used the stir as a tool tosatisfy his ambition to emerge as a leader and that he hasbecome a "crorepati" within one year of the movement that waslaunched to seek OBC quota for Patels in government jobs andeducation. They alleged that Hardik’s "dictatorial style" hasruined the chances of getting reservation for Patels. Hardik had already dismissed the allegations as"false". On hearing their suspension from PAAS, Chirag andKetan accused Hardik of taking arbitrary decisions. "This is exactly what I have said in the letter, thatHardik will take such arbitrary decisions and try to eliminatethose who are not in his good books. This is an unfairdecision by Hardik and we will expose him by providingevidences against him whenever time comes," said Ketan. Furious after learning about his suspension, Chiragaccused Hardik of misguiding Patel community by projectinghimself as the only leader of PAAS. "PAAS is not Hardik’s personal estate. This decisionof our suspension proves that our allegations were true. Iwant to tell him that he is not the only leader of this stir.Only Patel community can take the decision of our suspension,and Hardik is not the community," said Chirag. Chirag and Ketan also remained in jail along withHardik for almost eight months, as they were made co-accusedin the sedition case in Ahmedabad following violence afterPAAS rally on August 25, 2015. PTI PJT NSK IKAPTP