"Hardik, Hardik" at BJP rally in Gujarat:Chaos at Amit Shah's patidar meet

BJP chief Amit Shah's meeting with the leaders of the Patidar community in Surat turned into chaos today, as the supporters of Hardik Patel chanting his name went on a rampage and vandalised the furniture.

Shah was in Surat to attend a huge rally by the BJP to honour the new Patel ministers in the government led by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. 

The rally was seen as not only a show of strength by the BJP, but also a signal to the Patidar community, which had been on a collision course with the government over their demand for quota in jobs and education.

The unrest -- which took place at a felicitation programme organised by some Patidar leaders -- started as Mr Shah came on the stage and Union minister Purshottam Rupala was speaking. The crowds in the back row started chanting "Hardik, Hardik" and soon they were violently breaking the chairs in crowd.

The police was called in, and they physically removed the trouble-makers from the venue. Mr Shah spoke for only 6 minutes, by which time, only 20 per cent of the audience remained. Around 40 Patidar leaders were detained.

The red-faced party accused the Congress of creating trouble. "The programme went on smoothly, only a handful of unruly elements instigated by the Congress tried to disrupt it," said senior state BJP leader KC Patel.