Congress ex-MLA to play host

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti convenor Hardik Patel is welcomed by the Patidar community after his release from prison in Surat. (Photo: PTI)

The leader of the Patidar reservation agitation, Hardik Patel, will stay at a former Congress MLA’s house in Udaipur during his six-month exile from Gujarat. Mr Patel will arrive there around Sunday afternoon.

Mr Patel, released from jail on Friday after nine months, has given this undertaking to the Surat district and sessions court through his lawyer Dilip Patel. “My temporary address for the said (sic) period of six months is 190, Near Shrinath Nagar, Mount View School, Airport Road, Dhuju ki Bavdi, Udaipur, Rajasthan,” Mr Patel said in his affidavit. He has also promised not to change his address without prior information or permission.

“This is the temporary address of Hardik for next six months as the high court, while granting him bail last week, instructed us to inform the local court about his address for the next six months as Hardik has to leave Gujarat within two days of his release,” said Mr Dilip Patel.

The house belongs to Pushkar Lal Dangi, a former Congress MLA from Mavli and Rajasthan Patel Sangh president. He was defeated in the last Assembly elections by BJP’s Dali Chand Dangi. Since Udaipur adjoins the Gujarat border, it would be convenient for Mr Patel to stay in touch with his supporters.

“Yes, the address given in the affidavit is my house in Udaipur. Hardik will stay at my house in Udaipur. I invited him to stay and accepted,” Mr Dangi told this newspaper over the phone. He said the party has nothing to do with this matter.

“I am the leader of the Patel community in Rajasthan. Hardik is also a member of my community who fought for its rights in Gujarat. I was also with him during the agitation,” he said.