Surat, Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil held a meeting with Kshatriya community leaders on Thursday amid protests against Union Minister and party's Rajkot Lok Sabha candidate Parshottam Rupala.
Patil said that the Kshatriyas of South Gujarat fully support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
The meeting was attended by community leaders from different parts of Navsar Lok Sabha constituency, from where Patil is the sitting MP.
Addressing the media, Patil said it was natural for Rajputs to be hurt by Rupala's comments.
“Today, 108 Rajput youth have come here.He also attended a massive gathering of the community in Rajkot on April 14. He has said that his anger is again on Rupala and not on PM Modi because her contribution to the country and Gujarat cannot be forgotten," Patil said.
"They are here to reaffirm their widespread love for Modiji. Kshatriyas are known for bravery and forgiveness. I urge them to support every BJ candidate," Patil said.I ask him to forgive Rupala."
"For the Kshatriya community, nationalism comes first. We have always supported Patil and will continue to do so. We have no problem with the BJP government. We are against Rupala." comments and we will continue to protest," said Shailendra Singh, a Rajput leader from Chikhali taluka of Navsari district.
He said that the community has always been with BJP and Patil because Rupala is not the whole BJP.
Rupala is facing the ire of Rajputs after she claimed at a rally that the community's rulers collaborated with the British and other foreign invaders and maintained "roti aur beti" (trade and marriage) relations with them.
Voting for 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7.
Patil's meeting came a day after leaders of the Kshatriya community, associated with an umbrella organization called 'Rajput Samanvay Samiti', announced that they would hold four 'mahasa conferences' ahead of the May 7 elections to protest against the BJP's decision not to cancel Rupala's candidature. 'Or will organize mega meetings.
Earlier, committee spokesperson Karansingh Chavda had claimed that the aim is to defeat BJP on at least 10 seats. These are Rajkot, Surendranagar, Jamnagar Bhavnagar, Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Mehsana and Bharuch.
Patil said that the Kshatriyas of South Gujarat fully support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
The meeting was attended by community leaders from different parts of Navsar Lok Sabha constituency, from where Patil is the sitting MP.
Addressing the media, Patil said it was natural for Rajputs to be hurt by Rupala's comments.
“Today, 108 Rajput youth have come here.He also attended a massive gathering of the community in Rajkot on April 14. He has said that his anger is again on Rupala and not on PM Modi because her contribution to the country and Gujarat cannot be forgotten," Patil said.
"They are here to reaffirm their widespread love for Modiji. Kshatriyas are known for bravery and forgiveness. I urge them to support every BJ candidate," Patil said.I ask him to forgive Rupala."
"For the Kshatriya community, nationalism comes first. We have always supported Patil and will continue to do so. We have no problem with the BJP government. We are against Rupala." comments and we will continue to protest," said Shailendra Singh, a Rajput leader from Chikhali taluka of Navsari district.
He said that the community has always been with BJP and Patil because Rupala is not the whole BJP.
Rupala is facing the ire of Rajputs after she claimed at a rally that the community's rulers collaborated with the British and other foreign invaders and maintained "roti aur beti" (trade and marriage) relations with them.
Voting for 25 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7.
Patil's meeting came a day after leaders of the Kshatriya community, associated with an umbrella organization called 'Rajput Samanvay Samiti', announced that they would hold four 'mahasa conferences' ahead of the May 7 elections to protest against the BJP's decision not to cancel Rupala's candidature. 'Or will organize mega meetings.
Earlier, committee spokesperson Karansingh Chavda had claimed that the aim is to defeat BJP on at least 10 seats. These are Rajkot, Surendranagar, Jamnagar Bhavnagar, Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Mehsana and Bharuch.
