‘Book BJP chief, other leaders for violating Covid norms’

Rajkot: Congress on Monday demanded that newly-appointed state BJP president C R Paatil and 16 other party leaders should be booked for allegedly not maintaining social distancing and violating prohibitory orders during his recent tour to Saurashtra.

The party’s legal cell submitted an application to Rajkot police commissioner demanding a FIR against them.

“As per your notification, there is a ban on meeting of more than four people to contain the spread of Covid-19. But Paatil had organized the rally of more than 5,000 people in your jurisdiction and organized a meeting of more than 1,000 people in a college on Kalavad road which is a clear violation of the notification,” read the application submitted by advocate Jignesh Joshi, who is state convenor of Congress’ legal cell and secretary of Rajkot Bar Association.

Apart from Paatil, he has demanded that former home minister Gordhan Zadafia, BJP’s city unit president Kamlesh Mirani, Rajkot MP Mohan Kundariya and mayor Bina Acharya should also be booked.

“Paatil’s grand welcome ceremony was organized at Gondal Chowkdi without permission of the police and police remained a silent spectator. We are ready to provide pictures and videos of Paatil committing an offence whenever police will ask. We also demand that the police should also collect the penalty of Rs 1,000 from those who were seen without wearing the masks including bar council member Dilip Patel,” he said.

When contacted police commissioner Manoj Agrawal said that he was away from the office so hasn’t seen the application. “I will see what action can be taken after going through the application,” he said.

Advocate Umesh Patel of Veraval town in Gir Somnath district has also submitted an application to director general of police and district superintendent demanding a FIR against the BJP leaders for violating social distancing norms.