AHMEDABAD:
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal on Friday began his three-day tour to Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi's home-state Gujarat. With focus on 2017 assembly polls in the state, Kejriwal is all set to woo agitating Pa tidar community which has otherwise been a loyal votebank of the ruling BJP .
“I have also come to ask people of Gujarat if AAP should contest polls in Gujarat in 2017. I will listen to people's problems and try to find their solution,“ said Kejriwal as he landed at Ahmedabad airport along with other party leaders. His arrival at airport was marred by protesting members of Yuva Azadi group, supporters of Anna Hazare group, who quizzed why Kejriwal has abandoned Anna for electoral politics. “BJP and
Amit Shah are trying to put hurdles in my rally in Surat on Sunday . This is not my rally, it is rally of people of Gujarat. I request Amit Shah and BJP not to put any more hurdles,“ Kejriwal added.
Fromt he Ahmedabad air port, AAP chief left for Mehsana, the epicenter for
Patidar
agitation, wherein he is expected to meet families of
Mayur
Patel and Nisij Patel, two Patidar youths who were killed in police action following widespread violence during the Patidar stir last year.
On Saturday , Kejriwal will indulge in more symbolism as he will offer prayers at Umiya Mataji temple in Unjha revered by Patels. He will offer garland at Sardar Patel's statue in Mehsana. Later, he will offer condolence to families of Patidar youths Nishit Patel and Mayur Patel killed in Ahmedabad.
Outside Nishit's home in Atira society in Mehsana, there were heated arguments of people who questioned why Kejriwal, who went to Una days after the brutalities, took a year to share pain of Patidars.
However on arrival of Delhi CM he was greeted with slogans of `Jay Sardar' and `Jay Patidar' as he entered Nishit's society .He met his parents and talked to to them from over 20 minutes before leaving to meet Mayur's family . “People of Gujarat are oppressed. Anyone who raises his voice is silenced,“ claimed Kejriwal. “It has been over one year since the Patidar youths were killed in police firing but no inquiry has been ordered against the officer who ordered firing at the crowd,“ he added.
“We will have to trust someone. So many politicians have come and gone. If Kejriwal can help us get justice we will support hin“, said Nishit's father Pravin Patel.