BJP's bid to pacify Kshtriya leaders in Gujarat fails, agitation against Rupala to intensify

The Kshatriya agitation against union minister Parshottam Rupala also brings back memories of decades old caste rivalry in the state

Ahmedabad: The ruling BJP's attempt to pacify the Rajput community, up in arms against the candidature of Union Minister Parshottam Rupala from Kadva faction of influential Patidar community over his alleged offensive remarks, failed on Wednesday, with the community leaders reiterating that they would keep agitating until BJP drops Rupala from Rajkot Lok Sabha seat.

A meeting between BJP leaders and leaders from the Kshatriya community on Wednesday failed to achieve any breakthrough. As a matter of fact, the community leaders have warned that if Rupala's candidature is not dropped, they would take the agitation to a national level. The community has planned a mega meeting on April 5 to raise their demand and take the agitation nationally.

For Wednesday's meeting, BJP had sent its delegation led by former minister and senior leader Bhupendrasinh Chudasama. Other leaders included cabinet minister Balwantsinh Rajput, Pradipsinh Jadeja, Jaydrathsinh Parmar, Kesridevsinh Jhala and IK Jadeja. They all belong to the Kshatriya community.

Following the meeting, Chudasama told reporters that the community leaders refused to accept apologies and stood firm on their demand to remove Rupala.

Similarly, Karansinh Chavda, the spokesperson of Rajput Coordination Committee, which is leading the agitation, in his media briefing said, "We agreed to talk to the Gujarat government and BJP leaders since dialogues are important in a democracy. But, the entire community in one word wants removal of BJP's Rajkot candidate. We will intensify and launch agitation nationwide if it is not done. BJP has to clear its stand whether Parshottam Rupala is important to them or 75 lakh Rajputs in Gujarat and 22 crore Rajputs in the country." He also added that this was the last such meeting.

The agitation started after Rupala, currently a member of Rajya Sabha, on March 22 spoke how erstwhile rulers broke bread with the British and married off their daughters to them. Rupala praised the dalit community, Rukshi Samaj, saying that they never converted despite being persecuted by the Britishers. Since then, Rupala as well as his party have been on receiving ends as agitation kept on intensifying.

The situation is said to be escalating with every passing day despite Rupala publically apologising twice with folded hands and Gujarat BJP president C R Paatil also requesting the community to forgive the union agriculture minister Rupala.

Experts believe that the situation is likely to escalate further as the agitation seems to be turning into decades old caste rivalry between Kashtriyas and Patidars in the entire Saurashtra region. Numerically smaller than Patidars, the Kshtriya community may not be able to influence the election outcome, the BJP is apprehensive about the agitation turning into a national issue.

"There has been an age-old rivalry between both the castes in many parts of Saurashtra. It had led to many a murders. Though recently it appeared to have stayed under control. However, it has surfaced at this juncture and is likely to haunt the politics and social life until it gets quelled," believes Ahmedabad-based senior journalist Shyam Parekh, who hails from Rajkot.

According to BJP insiders, Kshatriya community leaders are also disgruntled with the party for being sidelined compared to Patidars who are dominating the state government right from the chief minister Bhupendra Patel. Patidars have been rallying behind the BJP since the 1990s and became dominated following the rise of the saffron party, whereas the Kshatriya community, also due to numerical disadvantage, lost its influence with the downfall of Congress.