Modi's tactics annoy Keshubhai kin

RAJKOT: Chief Minister Narendra Modi is applying pressure tactics to ensure that Keshubhai Patel falls in line. With this aim, a series of raids- by the income tax department and the GEB vigilance squad -were ordered on some relatives of Keshubhai and former finance minister Vajubhai Vala.
The IT department raided the Orpat and Samay group at Morbi and Sheth Builders of Rajkot with whom Vajubhai has links.
The chief minister has hit Keshubhai where it hurts most. The raids were directed at well-known Patels so as to put pressure on the former chief minister who is still sulking at the treatment meted out to him last year.
Modi has not yet reconciled to the slogans praising Keshubhai during Gaurav Yatra halt at Visavadar. The Patels still support Keshubhai though he was powerless in the present set-up.
The raids on oil mills of Ramesh Dhaduk of Gondal, yielded lakhs of rupees towards electricity charges. Raids were also conducted on three industrial units belonging to Kesuhbhai Patel relatives and friends at the Shapar-Veraval industrial estate near here. They were asked to pay power bills ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.25 crore.
Sources close to former chief minister told this correspondent that ''Keshubhai has asked all friends and relatives not to succumb to such pressure tactics and bear it for some more time. Any retaliation at this stage would invite more trouble''.
The sources also said that ''the former chief minister himself was not perturbed by such acts of the chief minister. Keshubhai was waiting for the right time to act but surely not at the cost of the party but he would like to set the record straight''.
On the other hand the Patels were annoyed at such pressure tactics and had decided to give a befitting reply to the chief minister and his henchmen when the time came. Asked if that could be through the ballot, the Patel leaders refused to comment on it. They said that the next strategy would be to isolate Modi in Saurashtra and ensure that the insult to their leader was given an answer befitting his stature.