Ahmedabad: Some members of the Kshatriya community on Friday said they will launch fresh protests against the BJP if it does not cancel the candidature of Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot Lok Sabha seat.
The community is angry with Rupala over her statement in a recent election rally about several Rajput rulers collaborating with the British and other foreign invaders and having "roti aur beti" (trade and marriage) relations with them.
Despite the protests that have been going on for the last few weeks, Rupal filed his nomination from this seat on April 16.
Rajput Coordination Committee spokesperson Karansingh Chavda said, "Since the BJP refused to replace him, a meeting of top Rajput leaders was also held to ensure the party's defeat on all 26 seats in Gujarat."
The protests will include stopping BJP officials from campaigning, women sitting on serial hunger strikes across the state and interacting with other communities for support.The community had asked the BJP to replace Rupala by Friday, which was the last date for filing nominations. Voting will be held on all 26 seats of Gujarat on May 7.
Chavda said, "BJP has taken 24 crore Rajputs lightly. If BJP does not want Rajputs, we also do not need them. We will try to defeat not only Rupala but all BJP candidates in Gujarat .Vote is our weapon," he told reporters after the meeting.
Rajput women will sit on a sequential hunger strike across Gujarat from Saturday and will continue the agitation till polling day on May 7, while "dharma-raths will be taken out in five areas against the BJP," he said.
"We will hold talks with the people. We are confident that we will cause huge damage to the BJP on Patan, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Sabarkantha, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar seats," he said.
Since the Ahmedabad Police has recently issued a notification banning showing black flags during election rallies and against candidates, youth and women will show orange flags, Chavda said, adding that the community has also filed a PIL against this notification. Will file because it curtails the freedom of the people.speech.
He claimed that district-wise legal teams will also be formed to help those against whom the police will register cases during the protests.
"We will support the strongest candidate against the BJP to ensure the defeat of the ruling party," Chavda claimed.
Rupala had apologized for her remarks, but it had no impact on the Kshatriya community, who are insisting that the BJP replace them in Rajkot.
The community is angry with Rupala over her statement in a recent election rally about several Rajput rulers collaborating with the British and other foreign invaders and having "roti aur beti" (trade and marriage) relations with them.
Despite the protests that have been going on for the last few weeks, Rupal filed his nomination from this seat on April 16.
Rajput Coordination Committee spokesperson Karansingh Chavda said, "Since the BJP refused to replace him, a meeting of top Rajput leaders was also held to ensure the party's defeat on all 26 seats in Gujarat."
The protests will include stopping BJP officials from campaigning, women sitting on serial hunger strikes across the state and interacting with other communities for support.The community had asked the BJP to replace Rupala by Friday, which was the last date for filing nominations. Voting will be held on all 26 seats of Gujarat on May 7.
Chavda said, "BJP has taken 24 crore Rajputs lightly. If BJP does not want Rajputs, we also do not need them. We will try to defeat not only Rupala but all BJP candidates in Gujarat .Vote is our weapon," he told reporters after the meeting.
Rajput women will sit on a sequential hunger strike across Gujarat from Saturday and will continue the agitation till polling day on May 7, while "dharma-raths will be taken out in five areas against the BJP," he said.
"We will hold talks with the people. We are confident that we will cause huge damage to the BJP on Patan, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Sabarkantha, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar seats," he said.
Since the Ahmedabad Police has recently issued a notification banning showing black flags during election rallies and against candidates, youth and women will show orange flags, Chavda said, adding that the community has also filed a PIL against this notification. Will file because it curtails the freedom of the people.speech.
He claimed that district-wise legal teams will also be formed to help those against whom the police will register cases during the protests.
"We will support the strongest candidate against the BJP to ensure the defeat of the ruling party," Chavda claimed.
Rupala had apologized for her remarks, but it had no impact on the Kshatriya community, who are insisting that the BJP replace them in Rajkot.