New Delhi: Former Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel on Thursday joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of state party president C R Patil and former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel.
Ahead of joining the BJP, Hardik Patel wrote on his official Twitter handle, "With the feeling of national and social interest, I am going to start a new chapter from today. I will work as a small soldier in the noble work of service to the nation under the leadership of the successful Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi."
Hardik, who joined the Congress earlier in 2019, withdrew from the party's main membership on May 18 this year. He has since then been vocal against the Congress and dubbed the grand old party as "anti-Patidar and anti-Gujarat".
Hardik, who rose to prominence in 2015 after leading an agitation in Gujarat demanding quota for people from the Patidar community, was in July 2020 appointed the functioning president of the Congress’ state unit.
Earlier, Hardik Patel attacked the Congress leadership for allegedly harbouring "hatred towards Hindus and Lord Ram."
In a series of tweets, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener, Hardik said, "I had said earlier also that the Congress party works to hurt the sentiments of the people, it is always trying to damage the faith of Hindu religion.
"I want to ask the Congress and its leaders as in what enmity do you have with Lord Shri Ram? Why hate Hindus so much? After centuries, a temple of Lord Shri Ram is being built in Ayodhya, yet the leaders of Congress keep making statements against Lord Shri Ram."
Hardik Patel said in his resignation letter to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi that Congress "just played the role of a barrier" on certain major issues in the country and was "merely limited to opposing everything."
When the Patidar leader presented concerns concerning the people of Gujarat, senior Congress officials were busy checking messages on their cell phones, and some leaders were "enjoying abroad" when the party and the country needed them, according to the Patidar leader.