Politics
Hardik Patel Resigns From Congress; Cites Party Leaders Obsessing Over Chicken Sandwich In Letter
- Hardik Patel called Gujarat Congress a sell-out, adding that the state leadership diluted issues of public importance for personal financial gains.
Hardik Patel, convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, during a press conference. (Ravi Choudhary/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
In a letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, Hardik Patel announced his departure from Congress. He had joined the Congress back in 2019 in the presence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. With his resignation, the mass exodus of leaders in the Congress party continues.
Reasons Behind Resignation
Hardik Patel’s letter is a scathing commentary on the rot that has settled in the Congress party.
He wrote that despite attempts to steer Congress in the right direction, it has been working against the interests of society and the nation. According to Patel’s letter, the party does not have a strong and capable leader that the youth could look towards. It is unable to present a roadmap to the people.
Patel added that when it came to issues related to India, Gujarat and his Patidar community, Congress’s only stand was to oppose the Modi government, be it the Ram temple at Ayodhya, revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir or implementation of GST.
He wrote that the Congress had been rejected in almost every state of India because the party and its leadership had not been able to present a basic roadmap to the people.
‘Chicken Sandwich’
Highlighting the non-serious attitude of the Congress leadership, Hardik Patel said that Gujarat Congress leaders are more concerned about ensuring that ‘chicken sandwich' is delivered on time for leaders who have come from Delhi, rather than focusing on the issues concerning the State.
Hate Towards Gujarat and Gujaratis
Hardik Patel charged that senior leaders behave in a way as if they hate Gujarat and Gujaratis. He recalled how Congress party had insulted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and how he did not know while joining the party that it would be filled with hatred towards the country and the Patidar community.
Corruption Within the Party
Patel called Gujarat Congress a sell-out, adding that the state leadership diluted issues of public importance for personal financial gains.
End Result
Hardik Patel emerged as a leader of the Patidar community in 2015 and was courted by Congress in 2019 with much fanfare. With Gujarat assembly elections due this year, this might come as a setback for Congress in the state.
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