In a sensational claim, quota spearhead Hardik Patel’s aide has alleged that he was offered Rs one crore for crossing over to the BJP.
Patel has made the claim amid key aides – Varun Patel and Reshma Patel – have joined the ruling BJP in poll-bound Gujarat in a dramatic turn of events, after state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki invited Hardik Patel to join hands with the party.
“I was offered Rs 1 crore to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. I have already been given Rs 10 lakh advance,” said Patidar leader Narendra Patel.
Narendra Patel also said that he doesn’t want the money and he had joined the agitation for the Patidar community. “The Rs 10 lakh given to me were not earned by hard work and I will be returning it to them,” he said
Patel claimed that Varun Patel took him to a meeting where it was discussed that he will be given Rs 1 crore and received the money from the former’s hands.
Varun Patel and Reshma Patel were among the prominent faces of the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and remained critical of the ruling BJP during the agitation.
They joined the BJP after a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and state party chief Jitu Vaghani during its parliamentary board meeting, which was also attended by BJP president Amit Shah.
After joining the BJP, the Patidar leaders alleged that Hardik Patel had become a ‘Congress agent’ and was trying to use the agitation to overthrow the present state government..
However, unfazed by the announcement of his key aides, Hardik Patel said in a tweet he that will continue to fight for the people.
“The centipede will continue to run even if some of his legs break. People are with me, and I will continue to fight for them,” he said.
