Fools gave formula, fools accepted it: Gujarat Dy CM

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel was at his aggressive best after Hardik Patel announced that PAAS was accepting the Congress' formula on reservations.

"Fools have given a formula and fools have accepted it," Nitin said.

"I have not seen a more foolish person  than Hardik. He is a young boy. He may have got some love from the community, but they are going to perish soon," he said.

The deputy chief minister launched a barrage of attacks on Hardik, which lasted about  10 minutes.  

"Many leaders like you have come and have gone into oblivion. They are like black stars who  will  be extinguished. This is all temporary. In the past, such leaders emerged during the Nav Nirmal agitation and some other agitations. Now, even their  neighbours do not know about them. You are all going to vanish. The community  will take revenge  on you. They will hunt you and take revenge  on you. You will not be able to show your face. Your name would be written in black letters in the history of the community," Nitin said.

He also hit out at Hardik for running his agitation in the name of Sardar Patel and Bhagat Singh. "If you want to take the name of Rahul Gandhi, do so, but you have no right to take name of Sardar and Bhagat Singh. When  Shaktisinh compared you with Sardar,  Sardar's own family had detested it. You are being cheated by people around you. You are dumb," he said.

He  said  it was Hardik who was responsible for the recent infighting in the Patel community.

"Patels are now fighting within themselves. All because of you. The entire Patel community was strong and united. You have worked to destroy its reputation. Politics is fine, the government is fine, but you have put our community in shame. Elections  will be over on December 18, but the community will have to reap the harvest of the poisonous seeds you have sown for long," the deputy chief minister said.

Nitin, who like Hardik is also from the Patel stronghold of Mehsana, asked the PAAS leader to go back to his hometown and ask the elders how Nitin Patel had helped the people there.  

"We have been appealing to you despite you insulting us, despite you breaking our offices. Do not think that we cannot retort. Just because we are in position, we have to maintain dignity. In the 55-60 years of my political career, I have seen many like you," he said.